I had a dream a couple of weeks ago that I was driving in my car going on a trip somewhere. Usually when I drive on a trip, I am sure to have my map and specific directions on hand, marking every distance and every turn precisely. I am a little directionally challenged, so I want to make sure that I don’t miss my exit and end up way off course.

 In my dream, I had my map and was driving along, but for some reason, I quit paying attention to the directions. I was looking around, listening to music and not watching my distances or the exits. Once I realized this, I panicked, noticing that I had no idea where I was or how far I had gone. So I quickly grabbed my map and began trying to figure out where I was. When I looked at the signs and figured out my location, I was relieved to find out that I was exactly where I needed to be.

This dream spoke to my heart because sometimes I try so hard (too hard) to discern God’s will for my life. I try to follow it like a map, thinking it is all up to me to follow very specific directions and distances, and if I miss it then it is my fault for not paying attention. However, this dream reassured me that even if I am not paying attention, I will end up exactly where I am supposed to be. It may not even be the destination that I think it will be, but God is sovereign and He will get me where I am supposed to go whether I am paying attention or not. It isn’t all up to me! What a relief.

At the time I had this dream, I was also reading Understanding God’s Will by Kyle Lake, and he used an example in his book that affirmed to me what my dream spoke to my heart: He quotes Danielle Shroyer saying, “There seem to be two basic ways people approach God’s will. I used to be the kind of person who sits [in the car] and spends the entire trip holding tightly to the map, studying its every mark and symbol. I think God is slowly teaching me to be the kind of person that spends the trip looking out the window and admiring the beauty of the world going by.”

Lake reminds us that the point of life is not really the goal or the destination, but the journey. He says, “Herein lies another myth about God’s will- namely, that God’s will revolves around what you do. And the reason that is a myth is because God’s primary will does not revolve around what you do, but who you are and who you are becoming.” (p.92)

As we make important decisions in life, Lake suggests, “What if my desires are God’s desires precisely because they’re my desires? In other words, what if the longer I purposefully strive for a life inhabited by God, the more my desires connect up with God’s…because it’s just a natural process that takes place day-by-day, month-by-month, and year-by-year as I’m learning more and more what sort of life pleases God…There is a history of relationship here…Again, within the context of relationship with God, God’s will is often actually for us to make the decisions, even difficult decisions in life. And why would God want such a thing? Because it’s in the process of making difficult decisions in life that our faith journeys seem to accelerate! It’s in the decision-making process itself that we learn to take responsibility for ourselves and experience the growth and maturity that’s in store… The primary goal of our lives is centered in becoming a whole-life learner of Christ.” (p. 94-95)

Furthermore, Lake focuses on God as a loving father who longs for his grown, mature children to make their own decisions, and take responsibility for their choices as well. He states, “If we expect God to take responsibility for the decisions we make, then maybe that’s an indication that we want God to be much more than a Father- also a dictator or tyrant.” (p. 148) Lake quotes Haddon Robinson saying, “Instead of wondering, ‘How do I find the will of God?’ a better question to pursue is, ‘How do I make good decisions?’”

He concludes saying, “Let’s let images of discipleship, fatherhood, and kingdom reframe our approach to God’s will so that we see life with God as an adventure…an adventure that will produce a person of character, sacrifice and faith- all in all, a person like Jesus.” (p. 154)

This book has made me realize that instead of my focus being, “What is your will, Lord?” it should be, “How do I become more like You wherever I am?”

There has been a recurring theme in my Bible readings these last couple weeks; it has been “God is my Rock.” Here are some of the verses I have read:

 ^“The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
  my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
  He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” (Psalm 18:2)

^“For who is God besides the LORD?
 And who is the Rock except our God?” (Psalm 18:31)

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”  (Matthew 7:24-27)

This last set of verses takes me back to elementary Sunday School singing, with hand motions: “the rains came down, and the floods came up…the rains came down and the floods came up…and the house on the Rock stood firm.” Of course our favorite part as kids was singing; “the house on the sand went SPLAT,” clapping on splat for emphasis.

I also remembered the words to one of my favorite hymns: “On Christ the solid Rock I stand all other ground is sinking sand.” (Words: Ed­ward Mote, cir­ca 1834; first ap­peared in Mote’s Hymns of Praise, 1836.)

Build your hope and your life on the things of God. The verses above say we do this by hearing His words and putting them into practice. Then when the storms of life come (and they will come), we cling to the Rock, our firm foundation. It may seem like our life will go splat in the midst of the rains and rising floods, but He will help us stand firm.

^“From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” (Psalm 61:2)

            One morning as I was walking in my neighborhood, I heard “ding, ding.” I didn’t think much about it since cars were driving by and other noises were around me. Then I heard it again a little louder, “ding, ding.” So I looked around in front of me and to my right and left to see if I could find out where it came from. Then I heard it louder, right behind me, “Ding, Ding.” I turned around to see a little old man riding his bike, ringing his bike bell to let me know he was coming up behind me. Even though I couldn’t see him, he was warning me, “I am coming.”

            I couldn’t help but think, the same is true with Jesus. We can’t see Him and we don’t know when He is coming back to this earth, but he warns us that He is coming. He gives us signs of the end of the age that alert us that His return is drawing near. He says, “Watch out that no one deceives you.  For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.  You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.  Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.  All these are the beginning of birth pains.” (Matthew 24:4-8)

            Jesus gives more signs of the end of the age in Luke 21 and says, “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.” (29-31)

            Read about these signs in Matthew 24 and Luke 21 and be aware of the events that precede the return of our Savior. Just like the little old man on his bike, Jesus gives us warnings, “ding, ding,” reminding us, “Even though you can’t see Me, I am coming!”

 “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’” (John 14:28)

 “Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book.”  (Revelation 22:7)

He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. (Revelation 22:20)

            A couple weeks ago, I was running and walking on my treadmill and praying as I went along. I have recently been praying about and looking for a job. So as I prayed, I asked the Lord to lead me and show me what He has planned for me. As I prayed this, I glanced down at the distance on my treadmill and it was .777 miles. This made me think about how the number 7 is very symbolic in the Bible, especially in the book of Revelation. The number 7 symbolizes perfection and completion. Seeing three 7’s made me think about how it is also the complete opposite of the number of the beast, 666. (Revelation 13:18) So when I saw these 7’s, it prompted me to thank God that He is good; that He is in complete control of my life and that He has a perfect plan for me. I continued on my treadmill, and about ten minutes later glanced down at the distance again. It now showed 1.777 miles. Then the next time I looked down at the distance it was 2.777 miles. Now I am just saying, there is no way I could have timed that or planned that if I had tried. So I just smiled and thanked God again for His perfect plan and His sovereignty in my life.

            Since then, over the last two weeks, the Lord has continued to reassure me and remind me of this, in some of the most creative ways. When I went to re-set the trip mileage in my car, it read 77.7 miles. I saw a huge sign on a tall office building that read 777-RENT. The next day, I saw two more of these 777-RENT signs in a different part of town in front of another set of office buildings. I ran in and pre-paid $30 for gas in my car, and that was enough to get me 7.77 gallons of gas. My daughter was invited to participate in the school district art show, and the phone number on the invitation was 281-335-7777. I have seen three different license plates this week: 777 SDF, 777 VZT, and AP2 7777. I saw a real estate sign with the contact phone number: 281-364-1777, and I saw a service van for a “Rescue Rooter” company with the phone number on the side that was #777-7777. I am amazed and delighted every time I see a triple 7. I have started writing them all down in order to keep up with all of them.

            Now there is nothing magical or mystical about these 7’s. However, to me personally, every time I see a 777, I am reminded that God is in control of every detail of my life, and He has a perfect plan for me. He KNOWS this, so He has been very faithful to remind me over and over and over again. I love how personal and intentional He is.

            Maybe he will show you a 777, and you will be reminded of His sovereignty and His good, pleasing and perfect plan for your life. (Romans 12:2) I would love to hear about it if He does. Or maybe He will show you something else that is more personal to you. His encouragement is all around us if we’re looking.

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. (II Thessalonians 2:16-17)

Yesterday I drove home to Houston, Texas from my parents’ house in Nashville, Tennessee.  It was 843 miles, and I passed through five states: Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. It was a long way home. I couldn’t help but think about and sing along with Steven Curtis Chapman and his song titled “Long Way Home.”

In this song, he is talking about our eternal Home in Heaven, and how the mountains and valleys in our lives here on earth make our journey so much harder and longer sometimes. He keeps repeating over and over in the song though, “I know were gonna make it; it’s just a long way home.” Here are the lyrics and a link to his song; I pray that they may encourage you on your journey today: http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=K7D7GGNX 

I set out on a great adventure 

The day my Father started leading me home

Said there’s gonna be mountains to climb

And valleys were gonna go through

But I had no way of knowing

Just how hard this journey could be
Cause the mountains are steeper
And the valleys are deeper than I ever would have dreamed

But I know were gonna make it
And I know were gonna get there soon
And I know sometimes it seems like, were going the wrong way
But it’s just a long way home

Some rocks in my shoes
Fears I wish I could lose
That make the mountains so hard to climb
And my heart gets so heavy with the weight of the world sometimes

There’s a bag of regrets,
Should’ve beens, and not yets
That keep on dragging around
And I can hardly wait till the day I get to lay them all down

I know that day is coming
I know it’s gonna be here soon
I won’t turn back even if the whole world says I’m going the wrong way
Cause it’s just a long way home

When we can’t take another step
The Father will pick us up and carry us in His arms
And even on the best days, He says to remember we’re not home yet
So don’t get too comfortable
Cause we are just pilgrims passing through

I know that day is coming
I know we’re gonna be there soon
I keep on singing and believing
What all of my songs say

Cause our God has made a promise
And I know everything He says is true
He promised He would never ever leave us
He’s gonna lead us
He’ll lead us home

Every single step of the long way home
So keep on, we’re gonna make it
We’re just taking the long way home
So keep on, we’re gonna make it
I know, we’re gonna make it
It’s just a long way home

-Steven Curtis Chapman, “Long Way Home”

            This last week, I was very upset and worried by several things going on in my life. I felt so burdened by them that I decided to pull away from everything for a few hours and just seek God. I took my Bible and drove to a quiet park on the water, and then sat quietly and read and prayed.

            As I read through different passages of scripture, I came to Matthew 26, which tells the account of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus also pulled away to a quiet place to pray, and it says, “He began to be sorrowful and troubled.” (Matthew 26:37) As I read this, I thought, “That is exactly how I feel.” It was such a comfort to me in that moment to be reminded that Jesus understands. It was as if He was gently saying to me, “I am here with you, and I know exactly how you feel.” I continued to read, “Then He said to [his disciples], ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow, to the point of death.’” I realized that Jesus experienced trouble and sorrow that was much more intense than I could ever imagine. As a human, He experienced the effects of sin in our fallen world, so that He might be able to sympathize with us. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15) I am so thankful that even if no one else understands, Jesus understands!

             As I continued reading through my Bible, I came across another verse that says, “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” (II Corinthians 7:10) I found myself relating this verse as well, as I confessed any sinful act or motive in my heart that brought me to my circumstances and the emotional state that I was in. There is such a peace in knowing that not only does Jesus understand, but He is so ready and eager to forgive. We can certainly drown in our troubles and sorrows if we are overcome by them. But the Bible encourages us to, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” (I Peter 5:7, NLT)

            When you feel sorrowful and troubled, remember that Jesus did too. He knows exactly how you feel. Know also that He wants you to repent in your sorrow if necessary, and then give all your worries and cares to Him, because He cares about you. In those times, maybe you too can pull away to a quiet place and just seek Him.

But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul. (Deuteronomy 4:29)

           I read several verses in the “Daily Light” devotional book (New King James Version) that described the Lord as our portion. I have read these verses before, but had not really thought about what the word “portion” meant in this context. So I began to search a little further. Here are some of the verses:

“My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”  (Psalm 73:26)

“You are my portion, O Lord; I have said that I would keep Your words.” (Psalm 119:57)

“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!” (Lamentations 3:24)

“I cried out to You, O Lord: I said, ‘You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.’” (Psalm 142:5)

            When I think of “portion,” I think of food serving sizes (large or small portions), or a share of something- only part of the whole. However, these definitions didn’t seem to make sense to me when speaking of the Lord as my portion.

            So I continued to look up definitions and other verses to see if I could find some other explanation. I found one more definition of portion that seemed to make the connection for me. This definition described portion as, “the part of an estate that goes to an heir or a next of kin. “ More simply stated, it is an inheritance. As I read this definition, I remembered some of the other verses that contained the word portion:

“O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot. The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; yes, I have a good inheritance.” (Psalm 16:5-6)

^“Therefore Levi has no portion nor inheritance with his brethren; the Lord is his inheritance, just as the Lord your God promised him.” (Deuteronomy 10:9)

            This made sense to me. The Lord is our inheritance; in receiving Him, He has given us eternal life. To take this idea a step further, Hebrews reminds us that, “For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living.” (Hebrews 9:16-17)

            In order for us to receive our inheritance (a Savior and eternal life), someone had to die to put it into effect. That may seem a little tricky, but it means that Jesus had to die so that we could receive Him as our Savior, our portion, our inheritance.

            Isn’t that interesting? When I hear the word portion, I won’t think of food sizes anymore… Yes, I have a good inheritance.

“I am your portion and your inheritance.” Numbers 18:20

            I got an email this week from a friend in ministry and the subject of the email was, “Are you discipling others?” My first thought was, “No” since I am not currently in a one-on-one discipleship relationship or leading a formal mentoring group through my church. Then a few days later, my ten year old daughter saw this email in my inbox as I sat at my laptop.

            She read it as, “Are you discipline-ing others?” and then answered, “You do that with me.” I told her that this is true; I do discipline her when necessary in order to teach her right from wrong and to promote obedience. Then I explained to her that the word was actually, “disciple-ing” and that this means teaching people about Jesus and showing them how to follow Him in their lives. Then her sweet response was the same, “You do that with me.”

            This was such a good reminder to me that discipling others doesn’t always involve a scheduled weekly meeting or a structured group through the church. I am discipling my children every day in the things I say and do and in how I strive to point them to Jesus in all things.

            Are you discipling others? Do you have children that are looking up to you and modeling your behavior? Then encourage them, “Follow me as I follow Jesus.” (I Corinthians 11:1) Do you have a co-worker, a friend, or a family member that respects you and seeks your advice? Then follow Jesus closely, and encourage them to come along. Soon they will begin to follow Him even if you aren’t there to lead them. “When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.” (John 10:4) Help them learn how to hear His voice and follow Him.

            Look for opportunities to disciple others throughout your day, for those teaching moments that point to our Savior. Your words may be the very ones to spur someone on to follow Him.

^“Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.” (Daniel 12:3)

           I am a list maker. I make lists of the tasks I need to do, people I need to call or email, and things I need to get at the store. I make these lists in order to insure that I don’t forget anything important. However, sometimes I forget my lists. Many times I have gotten in the grocery store and realized that I left my list at home, in the car, or misplaced it all together. As a result, if there is something really important that I must not forget, I write it with a permanent marker on the palm of my hand. This way I will see it, and I can’t lose it.

           I thought of this as I read the following verse, “I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.” (Isaiah 49:15-16) The Lord is reassuring His people Israel that He will never forget them. If we have accepted Jesus as our Savior, we are His people too and are engraved on the palms of His hands. How are we engraved there? I wonder if the cross has something to do with it. Jesus said, “They have pierced my hands…” (Psalm 22:16) Jesus allowed them to pierce His hands because we were that important to Him. He loved us so much that He made a permanent mark as a reminder, not because He forgets, but because we forget.

          When Thomas doubted Jesus’ resurrection, he wanted to see His hands before He would believe.  He said, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.” Jesus was happy to comply: “A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.’ Thomas said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’” (John 20:25-28)

          Do you sometimes doubt your worth and your value? Do you wonder how Jesus could really love you? Stop doubting and believe. He has put you on the palms of His hands with a permanent mark as an eternal reminder of how much He loves you…so much that He died for you.

“The greatest way to show love for friends is to die for them.” (John 15:13, CEV)

^“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8, NIV)

            I was eating lunch with my husband a few days ago when I made a new friend. We were sitting at a table for two, and he sat in a chair on one side of the table and I sat on the bench side of the table. The bench was a long one which was shared on one side by several different tables. As my husband and I sat talking and eating, suddenly I felt someone nudge up close to me on the bench. It was a cute blonde headed little girl about sixteen months old. Her mother sat at the table next to us and kept calling her back, “Madeline, come here, Madeline,” as she reached out for her to come back. But the more her mother tried to persuade her to come back, the more she clung on to me, a total stranger. She was very cute and sweet, but I thought this was very ironic that she was holding on to me and pulling away from her mother.

            I was flattered that Madeline wanted to hug on me and sit in my lap, but she wasn’t coming to me because she knew me and loved me. She was holding on to me simply because she did not want her mother. Her mother represented authority, and she was rebelling against her even if it meant turning to a total stranger. It was interesting to observe how our human nature even at such a young age has a tendency to rebel against authority. Nobody had to teach Madeline how to do that; it came very naturally.

            Sometimes it is very hard to respect those whom God has put in authority over us. It may be a boss, supervisor, husband, teacher or parent that seems very demanding and unreasonable. Or maybe we just don’t like being told what to do. So, like Madeline, we run away, to something or someone else. We aren’t really concerned with what we are running to as much as what we are running from. However, the Bible tells us that we must obey our leaders and respect their authority (Hebrews 13:17), and that we should pray for those in authority over us. (I Timothy 2:2) When is the last time you prayed for someone in authority over you?

            The Bible also says, “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.’” (Matthew 28:18) Jesus is our ultimate authority, so we need to consider how we are responding to Him as well. Are we clinging to Him and His Truths, or are we rebelling and running from His instructions? He knows us better than our own Mothers and loves us more deeply as well.

            This week, think about how you are yielding to Jesus’ Lordship in your life and how you are respecting those whom He has placed in authority over you. I am thankful to my new friend Madeline for reminding me of this life lesson.