Dream Big

     I found a perfect little piece of property on the beach! It is beautiful and I can just imagine sipping my morning coffee, sitting on the front porch, looking out at the ocean! The dream is easy, it is the rest of it that will take effort. Effort I am not sure I have the time or energy or desire to muster. I would have to give up so much to live the life I want... is it really worth it?
     When they did perk holes, they found clay, silt, and of course, sand. We must dig past the sand because it is unstable. Sand is highly effected by wind and water. It will be blown away or eroded with the least amount of change in the weather. It will change according to what is going on around it. We must dig past the clay. Clay bonds with virtually anything it comes into contact with, good, bad, or ugly. Due to its ability to bond, weather extremes effect it. When freezing weather  comes, it will heave. Pressure will cause it to harden and heat will cause a crust and cracks in the clay. Because it is a flat molecule, water makes it slick and unstable. The silt will not be an ideal place to build either. Although, when the wind and heat come it dries and becomes compact and seems like a stable foundation, it is slick when the rains come, because it doesn't drain. So we must dig all the way to the bedrock. This is going to be a huge task.
     So the footings are in and no amount of wind, rain, or extreme weather will separate it from its foundation. Now we need to look at the distance between the footings and ground level. The silt, clay, and sand will effect the structure, so we must make it strong enough to withstand those effects. We will make it out of rock. Concrete walls all the way up past ground level. That should do it. That should keep my home safe.
     I have put in a lot of time and effort at this point. The dream still seems so far away. The house has not even begun to be built. No walls to protect me from the weather, no bedrooms in which to seek rest, and no kitchen to fill my ravenous hunger. If I downsize the plan, I can have some of my dream sooner. Hmmmm.
     It is much like our life in Christ. First, we must make the choice. Do we want the freedom that comes with belief in the Only begotten Son of the Father? Are you willing to go past the naysayers that are constantly changing with every new fad? The ones who are blown this way and that when the wind rises, and washed away by the tides that are constantly changing? Are you willing to get messy as you get past the people who believe everything is true. It is just a matter of perspective. They heave with the frustrations and bitterness of the world they hold dearly. They become hard when they are left alone in the heat of the trials of life. Are you willing finally to muck past the loved ones who seem so strong and firm until life gets difficult. They are so saturated by the world that they will not even hold themselves up. They melt into a mushy mess that nobody really knows what to do with. Are you willing to build your life on "The Rock"?
     There is more, though. You must use the "Rock" to protect yourself from the influences of the world and from false doctrine. You must trust and know the foundation, so that you can utilize the whole thing. Otherwise how can you build on it. It is not unheard of to build a small house on a large foundation, but why? Why would you not use the entire foundation to build an abundant life. Jesus gave us example after example. Does the dream of freedom and abundance seem far away? Are you going to try to figure out a shortcut and end up shortchanged?
     I personally am choosing to live an abundant life. I will use as much as I can of the example of Jesus. I believe our abundance and freedom in Christ is directly linked to the amount of the foundation we use in Him. It will take more time and more energy. I will have to find out how much my foundation can hold to maximize my freedom. He lived a Jewish life, therefore I will look at the Jewish faith and live accordingly. He loved the sinners, therefore I will love the sinner. He rested, therefore I will rest. He prayed, therefore I will pray. He wept, therefore I will weep. He corrected the Pharisees, therefore I will correct the Pharisees. He allowed those around Him to choose their path, therefore I will not control those around me.  I will succeed because my foundation is the strongest one available. I will fail because I am not the "Rock" I am merely the temple of the Holy Spirit.

◄ Matthew 7 ►

New International Version Judging Others 1“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. 6“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. Ask, Seek, Knock 7“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 9“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. The Narrow and Wide Gates 13“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. True and False Prophets 15“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. True and False Disciples 21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ The Wise and Foolish Builders 24“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” 28When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.