"Once we clearly acknowledge the soul, we can learn to hear it's cries. - Dallas Willard, Renovation Of The Heart."

It takes courage to pursue our dreams. It takes time and patience to unearth buried treasure. But I believe with all my heart that we must do both.

3.03.2011

don't stop asking


I am preparing for another journaling workshop this Saturday.  I was going through an older booklet that I prepared for a retreat I taught at in 2009.  

I paused at this page.


"The Spirit, not content to flit around on the surface, dives into the depths of God, 
and brings out what God planned all along."
1 Corinthians 2:10 (The Message)


Do you have a dream?  I had a dream that I did not know I had.  God has done, and is doing something in me I would have never expected.  I prayed for years that God would reach down and move in my heart.  I prayed that he would help me discover my gifts. I prayed that he would use me. I still feel that in myself alone I do not have much to share, but he has reached into my heart and stirred and pulled something of worth...it's all his doing. 

I wanted to share this because I know how I struggled, and much of life is a struggle. We struggle with finding our true selves, seeing our true heart, that can be quite ugly at times. But unless we really look deeply into our hearts and ask the questions and face the hard things about ourselves how can we ever begin the healing??

My journey began several years ago and is not finished by a long shot. But, God is using me in ways that I could never have imagined.  

I want to encourage you - you, that have dreams. You, who do not know what dreams to dream yet. God has dreams and plans for you. Wonderful dreams and plans.  

Don't stop asking God to show you. Yes, God has plans for us, but sometimes it takes a YES from us before he moves.  

Invite him to move in you and open your eyes and heart.  


16 comments:

jgr said...

Mary, thank you for this great, great post! It is so encouraging and spoken from the heart. I know you'll have a wonderful time Saturday.

Unknown said...

Mar I've watch your heart open up and bloom like a beautiful flower, and I know it's because you've given all your heart to God not just parts. Your life has moved in a different direction, and I'm so proud of how God is using you to show us anything is possible as long as we put our Heavenly Father first...Life is a struggle in so many ways, but by reading God's word then putting it into practice we can see the end goal...eternity with our Lord!!! I love how you've grown my precious sister!!! (((Hugs)))

Unknown said...

Psssst love that photo of mom as a child with our aunts and uncles and grandparents

Theresa Plas said...

What a special message...thanks so much Mary!

Buffy said...

I think God showed you that page to show you what he has done in you. Thats so cool. I love when God speaks loudly! And it was a great message for me too.

Janettessage.blogspot.com said...

Thank you for the inspiration...I am seeing that God is bring something to the surface I never imagined. I see that things I did in the past are being created differently...I am changing..go figure. As I read through, once more, A Fresh Brewed Life, and put pen to paper...not paint, but journaling, I am seeing God open a whole new world. Just visiting you through the last months has inspired me to look...thanks!

By the Bluegrass said...

I feel the same way. I always pray that I will find my life's purpose. I always hear Oprah saying that every single person has a purpose. I still don't know mine yet and if I am already living my purpose, how will I know? You said that you are being used in ways that you never knew you would....can I ask what it is? Did your purpose revel itself to you?
xo,
Sena

Nikki (Sarah) said...

love this Mary...love your words....and the page....hugs to you

Mollye said...

Oh Mary you are certainly being used in mighty ways and what an encourager you are to so many. Love you and your beautiful spirit. Mollye

Mary said...

Sena, I emailed you!!

Unknown said...

Thank you, Mary, this so encouraged me. Getting older, relocating and leaving the corporate world has been a little tough on me. However, I am finding the center, where God is waiting to use me...and it makes me happy, yes, I will keep on asking...

Anonymous said...

Love that version from the message. Thanks for sharing! I enjoy your blog so much and love seeing your creativity flow.

Shelby and Bev said...

this brought me to tears mary...i have a dream that seems to be slipping away, god is reassuring me that his plan is better.
i am trusting Him, not me...

Vicki said...

This brought tears to my eyes, too, for reasons I can't explain here. But you are, indeed, gifted of Him to impart this message and I'm so glad our paths have crossed. ♥

Jennifer Richardson said...

Somehow I missed this post;
maybe the Lord hid it until just
now when my heart was quiet enough
to stand in this still pool
and really listen.
Touched. Deeply.
Needed today.
Thank you.
Jen

studio pashnada said...

I'm waaaaaaaaaaaaaay behind on my blog reading so I just found this today. It is a really good & timely word Mary. Thank you for sharing it with us.