The Diving Board

This summer holds opportunites for me to stretch my comfort zone and continue to open up my world view. I feel as though God is on the brink of breaking open something in me. Though I think that each time we allow our world view to be widened God always breaks open something new within our hearts. We have to make room for all of the people our world view will now be encompassing so naturally we as individuals must shift to accomodate that change.

I just pray that I allow myself to be open enough to whatever God is on the brink of in me, that it does not just break in evenly and slowly, but that it may burst through me and engulf my very being. I want to be surrounded by this "newness" so that it may become my reality. It has been said that it is best just to dive straight in to a pool instead of immersing yourself step by step. I believe this, I always have. I think that if we are opening ourselves to a change that we know God has intended for us then why be hesitant? Why take it one step at a time? Why not just jump in and believe that the faith He has given us is enough, because it is.

I am nervous though, I am scared. I will be standing on the edge of my diving board with my knees shaking, but still I will stand there determined to embrace whatever the Almighty has in store. I am someone who loves change. It is scary, true. But when it is a change that you know has to happen for the greater good then it is exciting because all you know is that whatever the unknown may be it is going to improve things. What is there not to look forward to abou that? I know this summer is going to improve me, improve my faith, and therefore improve my life. So I wait with my knees shaking just preparing for the moment when I can take a deep breath and plunge into what lies ahead.

Toughen me up

With big dreams come even bigger responsibilities. I truly believe this. If you want something bad enough, something that most may deem as impossible, you must be willing to fight, and fight hard for it. When I pray for things sometimes I forget that it is a two person job. If God is going to honor my prayer then I have to honor the blessing He is giving me, I can't just expect for it to happen with out any effort on my part. In fact I have found that sometimes I have to give much more effort than I even knew I had, because it is that important. If it is something that moves your soul you can't give it half of your thought and work it has to be tended just like a garden, given constant care and belief. My maternal grandparents plant a huge beautiful garden every year and when I was little I used to think that what made those tiny seeds that I help to plant actually grow was some sunshine, water, and Papaw's belief that they would. I still believe that, if you are expecting something to grow and flourish you have to believe that it will or else why will God put effort into it if you are not willing to also. It is just a fact that life is hard a lot of the time. It seems to get especially hard when you are on the brink of something great, you know why? Because life wants to make sure you are cut out for what is ahead because most of the time the great event about to take place is going to change you forever. This change can be beautiful and exactly what you need, but you have to work to get there and you have to be tough enough to take the change and face it head on. Life toughens all of us up that is for sure and even though it hurts and is hard I am glad it is that way. I want to do radical things for this world, things that only point to the one who made me just for this purpose. I believe in what I want to do for the Kingdom and if I want to be a radical warrior for Him then I definitely cannot be weak. I have to be strong and strong enough that when times get hard I just lean on the promise of belief I have in Him and in His purpose. I know I am not there yet I still have a lot of strength training to do yet, but I want to get there. I will get there even if all I have is some sunshine, water, and belief.