Meme – Inspirational Quote on Dreams Not Letting You Sleep

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Need to Slow Down, Speed Up, or Change Direction While Pursuing Your Dream?

What was your experience when you learned to drive? Was it similar to when my daughters came of age? At that time, the only option was to pay for lessons at a driving school.

But back “in the day,” growing up in a small rural Wisconsin town, driver’s education was part of the high school curriculum. That’s right. It was offered as a free class and taught by our science teacher.

Most of my classmates lived on farms where they’d learned to handle a steering wheel, gas pedal, clutch, and breaks by driving trucks and other motorized vehicles in non-populated areas. I grew up in town, and I’d never sat behind the wheel of a car prior to taking that class. Knowing that, my instructor had me first drive at a snail’s pace around and around the school driveway in full view of other classmates and teachers who were still on site after regular school hours.  Yeah … it was a bit embarrassing.

One I got my permit, my dad took me out on country roads to practice. I’ll never forget his calm demeanor while he advised me to put a little more pressure on the gas pedal while driving uphill to keep momentum, and less weight on the pedal while traveling downhill to maintain my speed.

People who live in the Midwest experience harsh winters with challenging road conditions. But when I moved to Seattle, I discovered the primary danger during winter months wasn’t cruising along on snowy roads. It was driving on hills—some winding and very steep—covered with black ice. If you don’t keep just the right amount of force on the gas pedal you’ll not only stop climbing, you’ll either end up in a ditch or slide backwards all the way to the bottom of the hill.

Isn’t it the same way with pursuing our dreams?

If we don’t have much experience with what we want to pursue, we may need to start out slow—even excruciatingly slow, despite our eagerness to just get on with it!

When things get a little scary and we feel like we’ve not only lost momentum, we’ve lost everything gained by our efforts, we may need to reassess the situation and possibly find another route instead of insisting on going in the same direction that has already failed. You’re probably familiar with Albert Einstein’s definition of insanity—doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results.” 

We may also run into what seem like insurmountable challenges, but if we just keep going and don’t give up—if we keep our foot on the gas pedal—we’ll reach our destination.

What about the journey you’re taking to reach your dreams? Are there areas in your life right now where you may need to slow down, speed up, or change direction?

Dawn

Meme – Inspirational Quote on the Beauty of Dreams

I hope you enjoy this week’s meme. You’re welcome to share it with friends and on your social media sites: Facebook, Pinterest, Google+, Instagram, and Pinterest.

To save it to your computer, right click your mouse (if you’re using one) and “save as.”

Connected to God’s GPS

Decisions need to be made every day. We even have to decide where to look for guidance in making those decisions. Where do you turn for help?

People frequently rely on technology for answers. Advice on almost anything from creating a tasty Beef Stroganoff to caring for a sick pet can be found on the Internet. The Web also provides resources on how to find a perfect mate, get a better job, and invest our money.

While driving, many of us use some form of navigation assistance (or a global positioning system - GPS). After we put the address of our destination into our cellular phone or car receiver, a pleasant voice instructs us to continue ahead, turn left, or turn right. If we deviate from our instructions, the system knows it, and immediately tells us. Then step by step, it gives instructions on how to get pointed in the right direction.

Wouldn’t it be great if God provided us with a personal GPS? We could call it God’s Perfect Strategy system. The beautiful box, designed to fit individual style and taste, would sit next to our bed. To receive guidance for the day, our only responsibility would be hitting a button each morning. God would speak, and we’d know exactly what to pursue, and what paths to avoid. Better yet—if the system was small enough to throw into a purse, or attach to a belt loop, we could take it with us. Even more convenient—a downloadable phone app. There wouldn’t be any doubt as to following his plan and staying on the right track.

If only it were so easy . . .

What should we do when our job is terminated and the bills are behind? What do we do when a teenager continues to badly influence siblings and disrupt family life? Or our heart has been torn apart by someone we’ve unconditionally loved for years?

What about our dreams to pursue a passion or at least something different than what we’ve been doing for years? How do we find purpose that fills an ache within?

God can speak to our hearts through prayer. And his word, the Bible, is just as relevant today as it was thousands of years ago. Since the beginning of time, people have required shelter, food, and clothing. They’ve battled sickness, and they’ve lost their children to war. Their hearts have been broken. Their dreams have been crushed.

Experienced friends can provide wisdom. A gut feeling nudging us in one direction may be the prompting of the Holy Spirit. But we shouldn’t forget to seek the One who is all knowing and wants only the best for us.

The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. (Isaiah 58:11 NIV)

One evening, as I drove home after a long work day, the rain pelted my car’s windshield. Without the help of wipers, I would have been blind to the direction the road was taking and could have easily missed a turn, or moved onto a part of the road I had no desire to be on.

A few drops of rain on the windshield didn’t hinder my ability to see where I was going. But if more were allowed to accumulate, the view of the road would have become distorted. 

A few distractions may not cause us to stray from the path God has chosen for us. But, if we continue to allow more things to become between us and our relationship with him, we can easily start to make poor choices. We may take a wrong turn because we’re no longer seeing clearly.

Show me your way, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. (Psalm 25:4 NIV)

God desires to provide the guidance you need today, and every day—no matter what the situation. You can trust that.

How might thinking of prayer as a way to connect to God’s navigational system help you in finding direction?

Dawn