I'm driving down the road. I come to a bridge, and then, for whatever reason, I lose control of the car. In what seems like just seconds, I'm in the water. Panic ensues, but somehow, I get out and swim to safety.
Then I wake up.
I have had this reoccurring dream off and on since I was a teenager, and I had it again last night.
It always freaks me out. I awake nervous, anxious, and wondering why in the world I keep dreaming about driving off bridges?!
Needless to say, as a result, I hate driving over bridges.
When I awoke this morning after having the above dream narrative, I instantly thought of the biblical Joseph and wished he was here. Joseph could interpret dreams. You remember, he did it for the Cupbearer and the Baker, and he did it for Pharaoh.
When Pharaoh called Joseph and asked him to interpret his dreams, Joseph replied, "I cannot do it, but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires." Genesis 41:16
If we want answers, really want them, God will give them!
I know why I have this dream every so often. It is a reminder from my God that when I am in the driver's seat of my life instead of Him, things don't go well. I'm a bit of a control freak, so this happens often. And with this reoccurring dream, God takes another minute to warn me that if I persist in this I will end up overwhelmed by life. I will feel as if I'm drowning.
Thankfully, the dream does have a hopeful ending. God does not abandon us when we screw up! #praiseJesus
Psalm 107:6 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
Cry out to Him, and He will answer. Then swim in the direction of His voice!
But, oh, how much better would it be if I just got out of the driver's seat in the first place and let Him drive the car - always? For certain, He would never swerve me off course!
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.…
I have a lot to learn.
Today's forget-me-not: Jesus, take the wheel!
updated About This Blog
Welcome!!!
My
name is Jamie, and I would best describe myself as a Martha – the sister Jesus
gently rebuked for having her priorities mixed up.
You
remember the story, right?
Luke
10:38-42
38
Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village; and a woman named Martha received him into her house. 39
And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to
his teaching.
40 But Martha was distracted with much serving; and she went to him
and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve
alone? Tell her then to help me." 41 But the Lord answered her,
"Martha, Martha, you are anxious
and troubled about many things; 42 one thing is needful. Mary has chosen
the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her."
Poor,
Martha. Distracted and anxious and
troubled. I must admit, too much of my
life is lived in Martha’s shoes.
Who
are you? Are you more like Martha or Mary?
I
think most women, unfortunately, identify with Martha.
So
much is expected of us that it’s easy to get distracted and lose focus of what is
most important in this life – that is spending time with our Lord and listening
to His teaching. I often forget this
truth.
And
when I find something I don’t want to forget – like the wisdom found here in
Luke 10 - I blog about it. Because I want to and need to remember it.
Here is where I
post my forget-me-nots – the observations of a “Martha” who is trying
desperately to be more like a “Mary.”
Any
fellow Marthas out there?! Let’s unite!
If
you decide to stick around, thank you for letting me share my observations with
YOU!
Finish Strong!
Yesterday, I ran the third annual Collins Dixon 5k. This was my second time running this race, and it was my twentieth 5k!
This is a tough course, but I always come back - and always will, God willing - to run it in support of Collins' parents and their work. They run a foundation called Bend Your Knees:
As I said, the course is difficult. It's a road course like most all of the 5ks I run, but this one has a hill that is steep and long. It's a hill I cannot manage to run. The moment I hit this hill on the way to the finish line, I have to power walk up it. It gets me every time. They call it Collins' hill, and the metaphor is never lost on me.
Yesterday, as I trudged up that hill, I thought of Collins' physical and emotional struggle with his brain tumor - a struggle no child of twelve should ever have to endure. I thought of his parents - specifically, his mom - as they watched their son slowly slip from them.
I thought of all the pain his parents had experienced - and still do - and I thought, "Collins' parents have survived so much. I can certainly do this for them!" And I was motivated to get up that hill and run hard through the finish line.
I finished strong. But more importantly, Collins and his family finished their battles strong. And that strength is an inspiration to so many.
I leave you with the ultimate racing/life metaphor for Christians:
Today's forget-me-not: Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
#finishstrong
This is a tough course, but I always come back - and always will, God willing - to run it in support of Collins' parents and their work. They run a foundation called Bend Your Knees:
The Bend Your Knees Foundation is a Georgia 501(c) 3 non-profit started in memory of Collins Dixon to raise money to be able to give back to others. Our focus is to spread awareness of brain tumors in children, support families with a child that has a brain tumor, and support other organizations that work with children with brain tumors such as the Brain Tumor Foundation for Children.
It's a great cause which makes any difficult race course easier to run when you know you are running for an outstanding purpose!
And running with good friends helps too :-)
As I said, the course is difficult. It's a road course like most all of the 5ks I run, but this one has a hill that is steep and long. It's a hill I cannot manage to run. The moment I hit this hill on the way to the finish line, I have to power walk up it. It gets me every time. They call it Collins' hill, and the metaphor is never lost on me.
Yesterday, as I trudged up that hill, I thought of Collins' physical and emotional struggle with his brain tumor - a struggle no child of twelve should ever have to endure. I thought of his parents - specifically, his mom - as they watched their son slowly slip from them.
I thought of all the pain his parents had experienced - and still do - and I thought, "Collins' parents have survived so much. I can certainly do this for them!" And I was motivated to get up that hill and run hard through the finish line.
I finished strong. But more importantly, Collins and his family finished their battles strong. And that strength is an inspiration to so many.
Giving back to others is only part of the mission of Collins’ foundation. Collins’ faith in the Lord Jesus Christ was strong. As his body grew weaker, his faith grew stronger. Jesus was real to Collins. He showed us how to FINISH STRONG!
 |
| #tired But we finished strong! |
Today's forget-me-not: Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
#finishstrong
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
Ecclesiastes 3:1 To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.
I remember the first time I - young, almost twenty-something Jamie - read this verse in the bible. I remember thinking, "Yeah. Life has seasons. Childhood. Adulthood. Parenthood. And Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, life goes on."
But it's one thing to know something in your head and quite another matter to know it in your heart.
As I age, my heart is learning that life has seasons. And when a season ends and is gone forever - never to return again - you can't help but feel some sadness for its loss.
Case in point: Hannah (my, now, three-year-old) got new bedroom furniture this past weekend - twin size bed, side table, and dresser. This meant we had to throw away her crib and mattress - the last of which this house will see. It also entailed selling the rocker and ottoman in which I rocked both my girls. And finally, I sold off some old books and toys they shared.
You see where I'm going with this, right?
During all this transition, I had a few emotional moments, and I must admit that surprised me! See, I'm not fond of the baby and toddler years that form the beginning of parenthood. I work better with kids who can sleep through the night, pee and poop in a potty, and think and verbalize rational thoughts. I should have been giddy to move Hannah into her new big girl room as that symbolized she was close to mastering all these abilities, and I was... until I grabbed "Pajama Time."
"Pajama Time" is one of the first books I read to Hannah before bedtime to help establish a bedtime routine. She used to laugh and giggle with glee as I'd read the silly tale of these animals getting ready for bed in different colored pajamas while dancing to the left and dancing to the right.
But, dang it, even as I write about this book, I feel myself choking back tears! What's up with that?! It's just a book for crying out loud!
A book. A book that - as I sat there with it in my hands trying to decide if I wanted to sell it or not - sent my mind racing back to a particular season of Hannah's life when she was just a baby on my knees before bed looking to her momma to help put her to sleep.
I couldn't sell the book.
It was a season - albeit a sleep deprived one - that I knew I never wanted to forget. A season that was - despite some of its trials - a blessing from God in my life.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time.
My oldest daughter, Beth, is - at the young age of seven - having to come to grips with the realities of Ecclesiastes 3.
She lost her bedtime bear - her lovey - at Target yesterday.
I gave her that bear the day she came home from the hospital. It has slept with her ever since that day. I often warned her not to take it out of the house, but lately, she had gotten into a habit of sneaking it out and taking it with her. The above pic was taken by her in the car with my phone seven days before she lost it. As you can see by its wear, it was well loved!
We - yes, we - have cried many tears over that lost bear, but it has oddly seemed fitting that it was lost during this week of transitions. During this week of exiting seasons and entering into new ones.
Bedtime bear served his purpose. His season with Beth is now done. They had a beautiful relationship these two, but now, it is over.
And that's life, right? Filled with seasons that begin and must come to an end.
Job 1:21 The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.
Good bye, bedtime bear. WE will miss you!
Today's forget-me-not: Find a way today to enjoy your current season and everything and everyone that is in it! You never know when it will come to its end.
I remember the first time I - young, almost twenty-something Jamie - read this verse in the bible. I remember thinking, "Yeah. Life has seasons. Childhood. Adulthood. Parenthood. And Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, life goes on."
But it's one thing to know something in your head and quite another matter to know it in your heart.
As I age, my heart is learning that life has seasons. And when a season ends and is gone forever - never to return again - you can't help but feel some sadness for its loss.
Case in point: Hannah (my, now, three-year-old) got new bedroom furniture this past weekend - twin size bed, side table, and dresser. This meant we had to throw away her crib and mattress - the last of which this house will see. It also entailed selling the rocker and ottoman in which I rocked both my girls. And finally, I sold off some old books and toys they shared.
You see where I'm going with this, right?
During all this transition, I had a few emotional moments, and I must admit that surprised me! See, I'm not fond of the baby and toddler years that form the beginning of parenthood. I work better with kids who can sleep through the night, pee and poop in a potty, and think and verbalize rational thoughts. I should have been giddy to move Hannah into her new big girl room as that symbolized she was close to mastering all these abilities, and I was... until I grabbed "Pajama Time."
"Pajama Time" is one of the first books I read to Hannah before bedtime to help establish a bedtime routine. She used to laugh and giggle with glee as I'd read the silly tale of these animals getting ready for bed in different colored pajamas while dancing to the left and dancing to the right.
But, dang it, even as I write about this book, I feel myself choking back tears! What's up with that?! It's just a book for crying out loud!
A book. A book that - as I sat there with it in my hands trying to decide if I wanted to sell it or not - sent my mind racing back to a particular season of Hannah's life when she was just a baby on my knees before bed looking to her momma to help put her to sleep.
I couldn't sell the book.
It was a season - albeit a sleep deprived one - that I knew I never wanted to forget. A season that was - despite some of its trials - a blessing from God in my life.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time.
My oldest daughter, Beth, is - at the young age of seven - having to come to grips with the realities of Ecclesiastes 3.
She lost her bedtime bear - her lovey - at Target yesterday.
I gave her that bear the day she came home from the hospital. It has slept with her ever since that day. I often warned her not to take it out of the house, but lately, she had gotten into a habit of sneaking it out and taking it with her. The above pic was taken by her in the car with my phone seven days before she lost it. As you can see by its wear, it was well loved!
We - yes, we - have cried many tears over that lost bear, but it has oddly seemed fitting that it was lost during this week of transitions. During this week of exiting seasons and entering into new ones.
Bedtime bear served his purpose. His season with Beth is now done. They had a beautiful relationship these two, but now, it is over.
And that's life, right? Filled with seasons that begin and must come to an end.
Job 1:21 The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.
Good bye, bedtime bear. WE will miss you!
Today's forget-me-not: Find a way today to enjoy your current season and everything and everyone that is in it! You never know when it will come to its end.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)