Skip to main content

let me dream a bit


If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty.

We sat in that courtroom for what seemed like all day, but it was only 4 hours.  In that time we heard witnesses about crimes, pain, wrongdoing, personal choices and so much more.  Yet at the end of the day the young man I came to court with was free.  All charges were dropped.  It was an awesome outcome to what could have been a very difficult set of consequences.

Let back up for a minute and introduce you to Matt.  I met his family almost a decade ago when a family member died suddenly.  Since that time there has been lots of water under the proverbial bridge.  I loved these people, but they are tough at times.  Matt and his mom walked into my office during the summer this year, and Matt began to share about his life. 

For more than half his life drugs had been an every week norm.  His decisions were often destructive and painful for himself and those around him.  This time those decisions and addiction led him to jail with charges that could mean several years in jail. 

Matt didn’t show up the next week or even the next.  But he did show up about 2 months later in the fall of this year.  For the past 3 months there is rarely a day that goes by that Matt is not here at church serving others.  He volunteers.  He longs to help other people whether that is something big or small.  I now know Matt to be a selfless, genuine servant of God.

Last month we were at a local outreach event where Matt quoted this verse to me:

Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

Yesterday was his court date, and as I said all the charges were dropped.  We got back in my vehicle to drive back to town, and one of the first items to be discussed was Matt’s excitement about the Dream Center.  This young man who was under the weight of a load of changes.  He went from a taker to a giver.  He gets it.  God will use Matt just like He will use you and me.

Let me dream a bit.  I dream of the day when we have a building for our Dream Center where homeless people can find shelter and safety as well as a few things to show them there is hope in God.  I dream of the day when our discipleship program at the Dream Center has a place to give people a 2nd chance in life, a place to live for a while and a place to learn skills and truth for a foundation of success only God can give.  I dream of a day when we are able to feed and clothe every month more than hundreds but thousands.

That is my Christmas wish.  I love this time of year and can’t wait to spend special time with my family.  But I long for the day when we can fill the Christmas wishes of many more people because we serve a God who fills dreams and does miracles.  I believe that, and I pray you believe that too.

It is pleasant to see dreams come true, but fools refuse to turn from evil to attain them.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Catalyst ticket arrived

My ticket to the Catalyst Conference, in Atlanta Oct 8-10, just arrived. I'm excited!

Have you heard of EDITH BURNS?

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns.  One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns.  When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her.  Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns.  Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved.  Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?"  Beverly said, "Why yes I do."  Edith said, "Well, what do you ...

wash feet, sharing hope

  John 13:4-5,14 NLT  So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him… 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. Jesus set the example we follow.  He served.  He valued and gave value to others.  That is why we choose to serve. For 18 years our church has shared an outreach called back2school, and for 16 of those years we have chosen to give students brand new shoes and socks as well as washing their feet.  It is one of the most important parts of this event. Washing feet is a humbling experience where both the give and the receiver learn how to share some moments that might change their lives.  Jesus said we should do this.  See the verse above.  Follow His example, do what He did, and give far more than you will ever know....