The definition of WONDER:
a : a cause of astonishment or admiration : marvel
b : miracle
2: the quality of exciting amazed admiration
3 a : rapt attention or astonishment at something awesomely mysterious or new to one's experience
b : a feeling of doubt or uncertainty
Wonder. What a rich word! Marvel, miracle, astonishment. When was the last time you felt those things? Maybe as a young child the first time you saw a giraffe, or a skyscraper or a rainbow? But as an adult? When do you recall feeling wonderment?
Even the doubt and uncertainty part in this word is rich. Isn't it good to feel doubt and uncertainty sometimes? We don't know the future and life can change in a New York minute. To just allow myself to feel uncertain would be freeing after all we are all uncertain, life is uncertain!
But I have big dreams...so big that I have to push them down. After all who I'm I to dream such dreams? AND life is uncertain. It's hard to plan when you don't know what may be around the next corner. But lately, as God transforms me, refining me with great care and gentleness, He tells me that His dreams for me are BIG! Bigger then I can see or even imagine. And I just wonder...like a child...what He has in store for little ole' me.
Prepare your hearts and repent!! With forgiveness, HE is coming to make your deepest dreams a reality. Dreams that are so BIG that only God himself could fathom them. Not one of us is worthy, but Gods grace and mercy is ENOUGH!
Luke 5
Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man
17 One day while Jesus was teaching, some Pharisees and teachers of religious law were sitting nearby. (It seemed that these men showed up from every village in all Galilee and Judea, as well as from Jerusalem.) And the Lord’s healing power was strongly with Jesus.
18 Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to take him inside to Jesus,
19 but they couldn't reach him because of the crowd. So they went up to the roof and took off some tiles. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus.
20 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, “Young man, your sins are forgiven.”
21 But the Pharisees and teachers of religious law said to themselves, “Who does he think he is? That’s blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”
22 Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts?
23 Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’?
24 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man[d] has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”
25 And immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped up, picked up his mat, and went home praising God.
26 Everyone was gripped with great wonder and awe, and they praised God, exclaiming, “We have seen amazing things today!”
I hope you see amazing things today!
You know, I have been thinking of dreams lately...and I think, "Who am I to dream such big dreams?" And I question if they come from pride or if they come from Jesus. Uncertainty. But the, like in Abby's blog today, the passage from Isaiah, "This is the way; walk in it." Thank you for this post today, Jill. It really blessed my soul and helped me wrap my head around some things.
ReplyDeleteJen,
ReplyDeleteI think when we are living in the flesh, it is pride. It is only when we walk with the Lord that we can be sure it is from Him.
May He bless you my friend,
Jill
Jill,
ReplyDeleteYesterday was the first time in a long time that I felt wonder. It started snowing, not just the regular 'ol white flakes, but big, fat gobs trickling from the sky.
Great topic.
I like this. A lot. Well, I do and I don't. I like believing that God has a bigger, better imagination than I do, that He has more resources at His disposal for meeting my needs than would ever occur to little, old me. At the same time--uncertainty is painful for those of us with certain control freak tendencies. I like being called back to a sense of wonder, to imagination. First time here--stopped over from Jen's place. Nice to meet you!
ReplyDeletefirst time here for me too...:) from Jen's place.
ReplyDeleteI feel like Jen feels "Who am I to dream such big dreams?" And I question if they come from pride or if they come from Jesus."
I love how you answered...great soul searching topic. so blessed I stopped in:)