Single again working Moms experience real challenges before they step out the door each morning.
Not only do they have to prepare themselves for work. They have the responsibility to make sure their children are bathed, fed and dressed.
“If only I can touch the hem of His garment I can be well.” She could barely get the words out. Life was hard for women of that time, especially this one.
She was a woman of faith, a woman who knew He was her healer, and if only she could get to Him, everything could change. The crowds were massive, and she was weak, nearly crawling on the ground. For at least twelve years she bled and though she had seen many doctors, doctors who drained all her financial resources, no cure or healing had come.
The Vision
What is your vision? Where does it come from? The Greatest Visionary, our Father in Heaven, had an amazing, out of the box, enormously creative vision. “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Later, after He added all we need to sustain life and saw that it was good, God created man from the dust, literally the dirt we walk on every day. He created man in His own image to be in relationship with HIm and to be a mirror, a reflection of who He is and what He is like. Man was not created as a copy, but for the purpose of being in relationship, to reflect and to fill the earth with children, more mirrors. If you hold a diamond up to the light, you will see many beautiful reflections from it’s many facets. This is how we are created, with the thumbprint of God inside us. In essence, God imprinted upon your heart a vision to reflect Him. His purpose for man’s life is to bring that reflection to fullness and completeness through a relationship with Him.
What is it you can do to reflect Him without distortion? Before the fall of man, everything was as God created it, in order and perfection. “God saw all that He had made and it was good.” After the fall, the reflection became broken mirrors, shattered images, distorted. To become whole again, we seek the heart of God.
Where do you seek the heart of God? Are you looking to Jesus, the Son of God, and to the will of God for His life and the gift given to us through the sacrifice of His life? God had a big vision—bigger that we will ever know this side of heaven. His vision is for you to know Him and His heart of love for you, so that you may live out the days of your life on earth being conformed into a being that is reflective of His great love, kindness, compassion and generosity. God’s vision came to fruition in steps. What steps can you take today, the beginning of a New Year, to begin to follow the steps toward the vision God has set for your life?
Sit with God and quietly reflect, ask Him to teach you, to reveal to you the next step of His vision for you. Then trust Him with all your heart, believing He will show you the way. Press on to meet the goal of what before you, leaving behind all the past that gets in the way. Soon, you will find that by taking these steps each day with God leading you, with your eyes fixed on Jesus and your mind and heart set on knowing the heart of Him who created you, you will be living out the vision God placed upon your heart in the beginning, before you were ever born.
Scriptures reflecting these truths
Genesis 1:1; Genesis 1:27; Genesis 2:7; Genesis 3:7; Luke 12:6; Jeremiah 29:11; Psalm 139:12-14; Deuteronomy 6:4-6; Mark 12:29; John 1:18;
Personal application
God has personally and uniquely designed a vision for you. Maybe you are a gardener who provides flowers or food for the enjoyment or nutrition of others. Perhaps you are an artist, a writer, teacher or an architect using your talents through creating something beautiful from nothing, crafting a story or book from a compilation of words that encourage and inspire others, work with children modeling the love of Christ and teaching preparation for adulthood, or create designs and strategies to bring structure to another’s life. Perhaps you are a mother with small children, spending your time caring for your family and modeling the love of Christ in the training ground for your children.
What ever it is, big or small from your perspective—God’s perception of you and your purpose brings Him great joy, glory and honor. He is not concerned with what you do as much as who you are. What is closest to God’s heart is for us to seek to know His heart above all else.
How will I begin this New Year? In 2012 what changes can I make in myself to become a better reflection?
I stood outside the gated area watching a team of precious little six-year-olds making some of their first attempts at batting a ball being pitched to them. They were so cute in their uniforms. They had all the appeal of one who knew exactly what they were doing being dressed to the nines in the black socks, white pants, jerseys with their names, batting helmets and a bat fitted perfectly to their small grasp.
When the coach would pitch the ball he would give gentle instructions to each team member who was “up” for his turn to practice some pre-game batting. I watched each one as they would concentrate to make contact happen between with their bat and the oncoming ball. Each time the coach pitched and the ball would come toward them, they would swing either too soon or too late.
After a couple of strikes, the coach would slowly approach the child, get down on his level and tell the little boy what a great job he was doing. He would also say to him, “Keep your eye on the ball. If you do this one thing, you will hit it.” He would then gently pat him on the shoulder while giving him a smile and a last word of, “Okay, let’s make this happen.” As the coach would resume the pitcher’s plate, the little boy would move into the right stance and begin rocking his weight from one leg to the other, just as if he were a professional league player. It was precious to me, especially because one of the little boys I was watching is Noah, my first grandson.
The third time up to bat, Noah did not take his eyes off the ball. No matter what distractions were around him, he stayed focused. More than four times in a row, he hit the ball beyond his coaches reach!! His coach acknowledged his success by cheering him on and giving him a high-five. Noah was proud of what he had accomplished! You could see the esteem and confidence beaming from his face!
Having a coach like this in the world of little league baseball is rare. I am thankful my grandson has a coach like him, who will encourage and build up my grandson and other little children. I am also grateful that he is setting an example of what mentoring and teaching others looks like. Hopefully, my grandson will grow up with some of those same qualities his coach is teaching him at a young and impressionable age.
As adults, without a team to cheer us on in our endeavors, we can begin to feel defeated. If we are aware of the need to surround ourselves with positive people, we have a greater advantage for success. No longer children and without our parents making sure we stay on track, it is our responsibility to take the necessary steps to make sure we have our own cheerleaders helping us to keep our eye on the ball and accomplishing our goals.