Getting It Done

Dream Big, Work Hard, Play Fair, Have Fun, Make A Difference
Scripture Thought for the Week: Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4
I recently shared that I had seen an interesting poster at an Arbys restaurant establishment. The poster was simply entitled, Get It Done, followed by a list of five suggestions of how this phrase might be accomplished. My challenge for the next five weeks is to explore how these suggested elements can be used to bring our spiritual lives into a mode of getting it done for Jesus Christ. This focus centers on winning souls for the Kingdom and enhancing our personal relationship and knowledge of the Lord. As we begin delving deeper into the steps of how we can bring our spiritual lives into a closer communion with the Lord, our first challenge is to Dream Big. But how does one go about dreaming big when we are filled to the brim with duties and responsibilities that need our daily attention? We are no longer children who are given the permission to lie on a bed of grass gazing up into the sky guessing at cloud formations. Adults and dreams seem like an oxymoron. Adults are too responsible to daydream about what comes next in their lives. Its simply a life filled with working to pay bills to support the family, going to church and carpooling to the childrens activities. Maybe a dream occasionally rises to the surface during the annual two-week vacation period. When I taught middle school literature many times I would pass along to my students a copy of a title that we would be using in class for several weeks. Immediately one student would ask, Mrs. White, has a movie been produced on this book? I would attempt to explain their need of reading the material and visualizing what the characters would look like before allowing a movie producer to choose that information for them. I have always been of the opinion that students need to engage their imaginations! Our imaginations are valued gifts and they extend throughout childhood into our adult lives. Without dreaming we negate the importance of goals regardless of our age. What might we be able to dream about when it comes to serving the Lord? 1. Have you entertained the idea of a mission trip either in your hometown, youre State or abroad? Almost every church, regardless of their affiliation (Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, etc.) support missionaries in various countries or State

locations. These individuals welcome assistance from their supporters not only monetary, but with our time and physical presence. 2. The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association sponsors a Rapid Response Team. This team receives calls when there is a disaster within the United States and they report to the affected areas to offer support, encouragement, food and spiritual guidance. It is a wonderful organization and more information can be found on the BGEA website. This is a great fit for many retired individuals who have greater availability. 3. What gifts and talents do you possess that can be shared with others? Maybe you know how to perform a certain craft? There is a ladies crocheting group that meets bi-monthly in our area. Not only do they enjoy one anothers company, but they make baby blankets for the local Pregnancy Resource Center; afghans for the middle school kids to take on their summer mission trips to the deprived areas of downtown Pittsburgh; and winter hats for the men at the City Mission. Or perhaps you play a musical instrument that others would love to learn. There are children that would love to play a musical instrument, but do not have the monetary funds. Can you imagine their excitement learning to play for the glory of the Lord? 4. Perhaps you have a totally new idea of a project that would greatly benefit a group in your area in serving the Lord. What might you be willing to offer that would build up the Kingdom? Dreaming big involves laying before the Lord the desires of your heart and allowing God to bless you with fulfilling those requests. Psalm 37:4 reads, Delight yourself in the Lord

and he will give you the desire of your heart. It doesnt say that God will become a
Santa Claus that will place untold gifts underneath your tree to lavish upon yourself. But it does say, Delight yourself in the Lord. Make God the priority in your life and focus on serving Him. After we commit ourselves to doing His purpose Psalm 37 continues,

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
Jesus loves us and He desires for us to continue to dream big. Set a goal this year that is totally out of your comfort zone. Something that you would enjoy, but thought perhaps you were not qualified or not the correct age. Allow the Spirit of God to lead and direct as you begin to pray. God will unveil an opportunity that will fulfill a desire of your heart and purposely demonstrate that you can still DREAM BIG!

Father, allow us to continue to grow as your children and be used for the building of the Kingdom of God. Remove the blinders from our eyes that we may clearly see

opportunities we thought were lost to us, but are more available now at our current stages and ages than ever before. May many be won to Jesus as we learn how to DREAM BIG! In Jesus name, Amen!