“I’m dreaming of a White Christmas.” Do people really dream about such inconsequential things? We had a white Christmas….well, actually it was more of a brown Christmas. The pristine snow we woke up to quickly melted into brown mush everywhere. I can’t imagine anyone dreaming of a brown Christmas.
I’m reading a book about a man who had a dream of his son becoming a famous football player, with all the attending glory for himself as well as his son. From the time the boy was old enough to toss balls around in the yard his course was set. With every decision needing to be made was the question, how will this help you reach your (now who’s dream was that again?) goal. The now college-age son is in the thick of pursuing a football career, but somewhere between donning his jersey and running for touchdowns he met Christ. The father is furious. He shakes his fist at God, screaming, “You can’t have my son, God. Nothing is going to interfere with his achieving my goal for him, especially not any of that Jesus stuff. My son will be called ‘Star’ and will lead his team to victory.
There was another Father who doted on his Son. He also had a dream and charted out the path needed to realize that dream. Glory was also on his mind, but not before a treacherous path, up against great oppostion, knocked down and finally killed. This Father said, “My Son will be called Savior. The world can have Him. He will save his people from their sins.’
From the time we are children we all have dreams for ourselves and then later on, for those we love. I remember years ago one of our young boys saying, “I can’t decide what to be when I grow up….a fireman, a policeman, or a NOTHING like Daddy.” I guess he was having trouble figuring out what his dad actually was. Dreams are always for good things to come to us. When the school kids talk to me about their futures, not one of them has ever said he has a secret dream of becoming an alcolholic or a street person, although sad to say, I know some who have ended up there. Instead, they have lofty plans for further education, money-making jobs and, most importantly, getting off the Reservation. My life’s going to be good, they say, and I can make it happen.
Just as we have good dreams for ourselves and our loved ones, isn’t it incredibly comforting that our Father too has dreams concerning each of us and has charted our course, the best possible things planned for us and the most efficient way to get us where we can embrace the good things! For my friend Sally, this means going to be with Jesus. He’s holding his hand out to her right now. For others in my family the course leads through dementia and other forms of suffering. To others the stress of a lost job. Only God knows what the course will look like for you and me. But it’s all good. All according to plan, His plan. All God’s loving purposes to bring glory to Himself and His children. “For I know the plans I have for you, plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jer 29:11 “Eye has not seen, neither has the ear heard what God has prepared for those who love Him.”
Let’s begin a new year with great purpose and confidence. God knows the way we take—He planned it. Come what may, there are no coincidences, no mistakes, no accidents. (I’m counting on some of you to remind me of this when life gets tough.)
In the Center of the Circle
Of the Will of God I stand.There can come no second causesAll must come from His dear hand.All is well, for tis my Father who my life has planned.
We can’t begin to thank each of you for a year’s worth of prayer and financial support but God knows what is owed you and He will repay you.
Our love, Greg and Kathy Staley