Surrendering Our Precious Dreams to God

This quote has changed my life. It hangs framed on my wall, on the dashboard in my car etc.
May we learn how to surrender our precious dreams to God!

God has been teaching me this lesson of trust & surrender for about four months now. I still haven't fully grasped the significance of it yet...

Deep down, I do believe in trusting God fully, no matter what happens, no matter what life throws at me. But when it comes down to actually living out that belief, I have a harder time with it.

"'For I know the Plans I have for you,' declares the Lord,

'Plans for good & not for evil, to give you a future and a hope...'"

- Jeremiah 29:11

This is not my first post on surrendering our precious dreams to God. (You can see my other post here). Also see what I've been reading on this topic- here (what inspired this thought 2 months ago), here & here.

Last night, I read a quote that impacted me. It is-

"Stress often comes from holding onto a dream too tightly."

 

I don't know who said it. Or how I ran across it. But it's stuck in my brain all night & again this morning. I can't get it out of my head.

 

"And we know that all things work

together for the good of those who love God,
who have been Called according to His Purpose..."

- Romans 8:28

(my life-verse)

 

Expanding on the topic, carrying it further- It's also about us failing to entrust that dream to God, letting Him mold His Will into our desires; trusting Him with the outcome, no matter what happens.

 

This is a hard lesson for me to learn, especially when my dreams don't match God's exactly. Sometimes I desire things that God doesn't have in mind.

 

"'For My Thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways My Ways,' declares the Lord.
^'For as the Heavens are higher than the earth,
so are My Ways higher than your ways
    & My Thoughts than your thoughts...'"

- Isaiah 55:8-9
 

I am reminded of these song lyrics-

 

"All to You, I surrender/
Everything, every part of me/
All to You, I surrender/
All of my dreams, all of me..."

- Kim Walker-Smith

("Surrender")

 

And of

 

"For we walk by faith, not by sight."

- 2 Corinthians 5:7

 

And of my favorite song-

I will Walk by Faith/
Even when I cannot see/
Well because this broken road/
Prepares Your Yill for me.."

- Jeremy Camp

("Walk by Faith")

 

As one of my friends brought to my attention today, it isn't just our dreams that we sometimes struggle with leaving at God's feet. Sometimes we hold onto things (possessions, wealth, careers, hobbies, activities, people etc) too closely, not daring to fully trust God with them. Like we could do a better job ourselves. What blasphemy! (and what a rediculous thought!)

 

So, in closing, some food for thought...

 

* What are you holding onto too closely?
* What are you afraid to surrender to God fully?
* What are you afraid to lose?

* Do you trust God completely, no matter what?

* Have you fully surrendered your dreams, desires, passions etc to God?
* Do you trust that God knows best?

 

"And I am sure of this,  that He who began a good work in you
will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.."
- Philippians 1:6

Fully Surrendering Our Dreams to God

A friend of a friend died tragically back in May. His name was Josh Eddy. He was 19 years. He was hiking with some friends & family. He was on the edge of a riverbank, turned to snap a photo & fell to his death... It was a huge shock & very sad. He was a STRONG Christian.

[You can read more of my tribute to Josh here]

His testimony & story has impacted thousands of people around the world. It's been AMAZING to see the legacy that he's leaving... He will not be forgotten.

Anyway, 12 days before he died, he posted a note on his blog about Surrendering our Precious Dreams to God. You can find that blog post here. I would encourage you to read that post and his other ones. They're very encouraging, thought-provoking & challenging.

Since then, a lot of my fellow bloggers have taken his challenge: Recognizing our NEED to daily, fully surrender our lives & dreams to God & then watch in amazement as He shapes, molds & turns them into far more than we could ever dream or imagine. To read more about this challenge, click this blog link. Also see this and this.

I have also taken this challenge. I don't know if I'll post the specifics on my blog or not, but I am committed to joining the cause. And I hope you will too. Let me know if you have any thoughts or questions about this...

Thanks for reading! Be blessed!

~ Kate
Proverbs 16:9

Joshua Steven Eddy, Go with God

 On May 5, 2012, the Lord called 19-year-old Joshua Steven Eddy Home. He was the second oldest of 9 children. He was a faithful servant of Christ. He had just graduated from the International ALERT Academy & wanted to be a EMT/Paramedic. He was an avid photographer & was filming his first film, with his brother & best friends. He was going to be the best man in his brother's upcoming wedding. They had just purchased their tuxedos.

 "Do not let anyone look down on you, because you are young,
but set an example for the believers in speech,
in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity."

- 1 Timothy 4:12

But all of that changed on May 5th. On a hiking trip with friends, along the Rouge River (Raine Falls) in Oregon, Josh decided to snap a photo on the edge of the gorge. He slipped, lost his footing & fell to his death.

The photo above was taken on the hike, just minutes before his death. He was about to turn and aim for the shot that would be his last. He was a minutes from death, and he didn't know it. He was ready... are you?

" He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,
& death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning,
nor crying, nor pain anymore,
for the former things have passed away.”

- Revelation 21:4

I didn't know Josh & had never heard of him before his passing. But his testimony has greatly impacted my life in this past month. His story has given me a LOT to think about.

Namely, he was so young when he died. Yet he had accomplished so MUCH for the Lord. And his testimony has affected so many people. He was living a righteous life, right til the end. What will my testimony be, when my time has come??? Him dying so young has also reminded me- we don't know the time nor the hour of our passing (James 4:13-14). Our time on this earth is short. Don't wait until it's too late to repair that broken relationship. Don't put off salvation til you've had your fun. "If you tarry till you’re better/ You will never come at all..." The time is now. What are you waiting for??? Don't become the tragedy of a WASTED life. 

"So we do not lose heart.
Though our outer self is wasting away,
our inner self is being renewed day by day. 
For this light momentary affliction is preparing
for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,
as we look not to the things that are seen
but to the things that are unseen.
For the things that are seen are temporal,
but the things that are unseen are eternal."

- 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Josh lived & died to glorify God. His death was not in vain. He will not be forgotten. And his legacy will continue to inspire people around the world, for years to come... RIP Joshua Steven Eddy. 

"For where your treasure is,
there will your heart be also."
- Luke 12:34

 In Josh's honor, his sister Mariah wrote a song in his honor called "To Surrender a Precious Dream." His good friend Ariel recorded it soon after his passing. Hearing it made me cry... WOW. It's so raw, fresh & passionate... I can only imagine what his sister & dear friend were feeling when they wrote/sang it... You can hear the song & view the lyrics here- http://arielstrom.bandcamp.com/ . All proceeds from the song go to Josh' ALERT scholarship fund. 

 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,
who have been Called according to His Purpose."
- Romans 8:28

For more information about this great man of God, please visit-

His facebook tribute page- https://www.facebook.com/JoshuaSEddy
His Blog- http://joshyeddy.blogspot.com/
A tribute by his (soon to be) sister-in-law- http://tiannalovesandrew.blogspot.com/2012/05/my-brother-joshua-eddy.html

Another tribute- http://ghettotime.blogspot.com/2012/05/i-tweeted-recently-about-my-boss-loss.html
A local news article- http://www.rogueriverpress.com/archives/RRP05092012.pdf

 "To surrender a precious dream is a fearful thing, but to pursue anything but the full measure of the glory of God's love is a wasted life." - Josh Eddy 

 "For I know the plans I have for you,'
declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you & not to harm you,
to give you a future and a hope."
- Jeremiah 19:11

* Note: All photos courtesy of the Eddy family (taken from Josh's facebook tribute page)