this post contains affiliate links
[Widget_Twitter id=”1″]
This week I felt myself getting close to empty. You may have noticed, there was no new Vlog. I took a short vlogging/blogging break this week, something I rarely used to do. I figured since I wrote a few posts on how to avoid burn out, I should at least follow my own advice.
Since writing these posts, I have been making a concentrated effort to take time for myself and not feel the demands that a busy personal, ministry, family, and business life often bring.
This week, as I prayed and thought about what to write, I felt like God reminded me about some articles I wrote some time ago but never published on the blog…until now, that is… Enjoy!
Two young boys watched as huge ships came and went in the harbor from a distance. The ships looked strong, powerful, and even unstoppable. The children felt small and insignificant compared to the enormous ships coming and going in and out to sea. Both boys dreamed of one-day being a part of the crew on one of those ships. There was something about theme ships that held great possibilities for the future and a life of adventure and intrigue.
As boys, the ships had been larger than life to them as they watched in awe from a distance. Imagining how such a massive ship could actually maneuver in the water and the roughest seas was no longer just a thought. Now, many years later as the two stood at the edge of the pier staring up at the enormous ship docked there, one of the young men was about to see his dream become a reality.
This ship looked like all the others they had seen all those years before, however, this ship was designed to break through the frozen ice. It could and would go where other ships wouldn’t even dare. As the two friends stood taking in the sight, one was pulled by his desire to go out and be a part of the crew on this ship. The other just marveled at those who even dared go out on the ship.
There was a longing and even a desire, a want, to join his friend and the others … to be a part of something. However, fear and life’s circumstances had convinced him that he would fail and could never succeed.
His thoughts crashed over him, like waves pounding into the jetty.
“Who do you think you are that you can go out and be a part of something bigger?”
“Do you really think you can succeed out there on the water?”
“Do you really think you can measure up to the others on the crew?”
Instead of joining his friend on an adventure that they had both dreamed of for so long, he was frozen and unable to take even a small step.
How often is it that we find ourselves standing on the edge, awestruck by the greatness, of God’s plans and purposes for our life and yet we do nothing?
Some often look destiny in the face and are frozen by fear. So frozen that they never take even a small step of faith. They feel the desire to be a part of something bigger than themselves, but never quite commit to partner and join the Lord on the adventure of a lifetime. Even if they’ve dreamed of adventure for a long time, doubt and fear are allowed in causing paralysis.
We can even become so focused on finding God’s will for our lives that we never really listen to His voice asking us to obey in the small things. It’s the small things that will lead to the bigger and bigger steps of faith filled obedience. One tiny faith filled step at a time, then before we know it, we have walked straight into our God ordained destiny.
Sometimes it is the small steps of obedience that we take in faith even when it seems that there is no way possible that we could ever accomplish such a thing. God has equipped us with everything we need to break through and continue on, even in those tough and sometimes what we see as impossible, impassible situations.
Noah had to stare his destiny and something much greater (the destruction of all mankind) in the face for many, many years. Some Bible scholars believe he worked on the ark somewhere between 70 – 100 years. God gave mankind 120 years to repent before he sent the flood. During that time God called Noah to build a boat, when it had never rained. He called him to also preach repentance to the people. No one listened to Noah, and yet he persevered in the midst of ridicule and rejection.
The thing about an icebreaker ship is that it looks like an average and ordinary looking ship. Yet it is built for a specific purpose. Hidden beneath it, is strength, power, and durability. Only a ship designed to ram the ice could stay afloat amidst the constant battering into and breaking up of layer upon layer of ice.
God has equipped us with everything we need to break through and continue on even in tough situations. What we see as impossible and impassible situations, God sees as breakout moments. We may look average or ordinary, but God designed us to be strong and durable, able to withstand all things of this world. We must not forget that we are visitors on this earth, Heaven is our final destination and God needs us to hear and obey and He will do the rest.
Ephesians 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Most of the time God is just asking that we take small steps of faith & obedience to Him. What seems so huge for us to comprehend and obey is really just part of the bigger picture God has for us. Small steps of obedience added together with our faith in action equals us beginning to walk out God’s greater plan for our lives.
God desires that we hear and obey, so this adventure we call life will lead us down the path to the purpose and destiny He has always wanted for us.
Let’s purpose to do our part –
Allow God to use us to accomplish His plans and purposes in our lives and in the lives of others.
Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
[Widget_Twitter id=”1″]
YAY! I’ve got some exciting news! I am an iBloom team member.
I’m sooo excited to partner with the iBloom Team to revolutionize the way women do business and live life! Stay tuned for some exciting details next week about June 30th and I will have details and a coupon for a FREE ecourse as part of iBlooms pre-launch for the 2017 iBloom Planner. So, instead of me telling you how much I love my iBloom calander and just talking about the it. I will be inviting you to participate in this FREE ecourse with the iBloom Team so YOU too can discover How to Create a Life You Love.
Oooh – and if you still need a planner for the rest of 2016 – they are clearing them out for the new 2017 to arrive next month – click on the link below.
I have been know to link to the following Inspirational Parties:
Sunday’s
Monday’s
Tuesday’s
Wednesday’s
Thursday’s
Friday’s:
Saturday’s:
Related
Tweet This
Hey Debbie,
Love this post! Become an icebreaker! What a great goal.
I found your post today on Faith n Friends.
Hope you have a wonderful weekend~
Blessings,
Melanie
Thanks Melanie – So glad to have you stop by today – you have an awesome weekend as well.
Missing your vlog today. Good post though. 😉
I kinda missed doing it too – but it shall be back next week 🙂
super post, debbie! don’t sweat it on the vlogs – i think i’ll try to do those only twice a month cuz it takes longer for the reader – of course, i’m more long winded than you are! i love the idea of me being the icebreaker to crash through to whatever God has for me – still nervous at times, tho!
Thanks Sue – I won’t sweat it – and just so you know, I can be really long winded sometimes, just as my husband and the church when I am preaching a good message 🙂 but I am trying really hard to keep the vlog posts to 2-4 minutes – which challenges me, but also makes me better. Go be the icebreaker God has called you to be, even through the nervousness – God will be there. Blessings
Thanks for the encouragement!
You are welcome Brooke
Sometimes it is the small steps of obedience that we take in faith even when it seems that there is no way possible that we could ever accomplish such a thing…something I think all of us can identify with! Thanks for the encouragement to dare to step out even when we don’t know the big picture:) Crystal~
Crystal – you are so welcome – I am right there daring myself to step out too and watch God do great things. I also think you are right – all of us can identify with taking the small steps of faith even we we don’t understand or can’t see the why or how. So glad you could stop by today
What a great post! I love how God has equipped us to break through the tough times. When we step out in faith we see how God is faithful to equip us. Love this!
Thank you Valerie! Yes, you are so right – stepping our in faith allows us to see just how faithful God is to equip us! Blessings and thanks for visiting today
Hi Debbie,
Thank you for your thoughtful, encouraging post:-)
God bless
Anita – you are welcome -thank you for stopping by
Thanks so much for sharing over at #FridayFrivolity! I think sometimes we lose sight of how important all those small steps are x
Jess, I completely agree with you! thanks for popping by
Hi, Debbie! Sometimes it is good to take a break. I hope you were able to relax. I loved the story about the two young men. Fear and doubt are powerful tools the enemy uses to block us. Thank you for the reminder to trust in the Lord, even if it is just following small steps at a time. I’m so glad you shared with #SocialButterflySunday! I hope you will join the link up again this week 🙂
Thanks Kelly, yes, I was able to take a small break and relax 🙂 Yes, fear and doubt are most definitely tools the enemy uses to block us – I hate it when that happens. One step of a time – we move forward.
Debbie, taking a break is something we all need from time to time. I need to stop my brain and my feet in order to hear if I’m on the right path, and to rejuvenate so that I have the energy to move forward. Take this time, breathe and listen, you are on the right track and we’re following along with you! xx
Oh yes, rest — A concept I am learning and that I am practicing putting into my life. thank you for always taking the tie to encourage me – I so appreciate you and I am very grateful our paths crossed, even if it is only in blog land. 🙂
“Small steps of obedience added together with our faith in action equals us beginning to walk out God’s greater plan for our lives.” This is so true. When we take small steps, things don’t seem quite as hard. Blessings to you! Thanks for sharing at #LMMLinkup!
Gayl – you are so right – when we do it little by little piece by piece it somehow feels easier doesn’t it ? Thank you for stopping in and visiting.