Ode to 2010: Post 10 of 12

Lesson #9: Keep Dreaming and Believing

The thing about dreams is that at some point we have to wake up and live them….. -Me

Do you possess the ability to dream without measure? Do you think you possess the power to dream when everyone says your dream is not going to happen? Do you think you’re able to hold on to what God promised when it looks like it will never happen? Do you think all your believing has been in vain? Do you think what you want is too much to ask? Do you think you’re worthy of all your dreams coming true? Can you believe? These are some of the questions that I often ask myself.

I think about the numerous dream boards I’ve made, the promises God has told me, the things I have been told by prophets, and I’m like, “God are you sure?”. Sometimes my reality doesn’t always directly correlate with my dreams and I am often baffled. In my moments of doubt, I immediately have to rebuke the enemy. That’s often when breakthrough comes. When I feel like I am about to fail, I have to go to God in prayer. I have to find a way to ignore what I see and understand that what I don’t see is working on my behalf. I literally have to repeat out loud “Walk by faith and not by sight” over and over again. Once I get this mantra back reprogrammed into my spirit, God shows up.

I have really, really had to walk by faith this year. Leaving a job, having to survive, wanting to still bless others, and just trying to remain significant, I have had quite a journey. Through all of my struggles, I can say God is good. When God says He will grant you your daily bread, He is not a man that He should lie. I really, really wish I could tell you everything that I have triumphed over and been able to get the victory in. Every time I needed a bill paid, or a sign, God wasn’t slow to move. I can recount numerous times where I said, “mom, God is about to send a check in the mail”, and within days it came into fruition. I know God is real. The moment I try to doubt His ability to work it out, I am reminded of how He showed up before.

My spirituality has been heightened in the midst of my life’s greatest storm. I have seen God move in the spiritual realm right before my eyes. Words cannot express the way I feel right now.
When you are at your lowest, God should be lifted the highest. Nothing is too hard for God, nothing. If something doesn’t work out the way you thought it would, then God has a different plan, He has to.

I have learned to not stop dreaming and believing. Yes, I will be disappointed. Yes, I will have to leave some people in my past. Yes, I will have to walk about from situations that seem ideal. Yes, I will encounter doubt. Yes, I will want to throw in the towel in more ways than one. Yes, I will feel like the weight of the world rests on my shoulders. Yes, people will think I am crazy for believing beyond what I see. But honey, let me tell you, none of that matters when God is in the driver’s seat. I have learned that I have to stop listening to what others say and even some of my own thoughts. The best way to get answers is to be silent. I have had to find a way to get to God through prayer and supplication. I pray about it, write about, and wait on it. Some answers are more explicit while others take a little longer to come. I know that when God has told or showed me something I have to move in that direction or everything else will fail. With God, I am ok. I have learned that when everything else fades away, we will always have God, and that’s more than enough.

Not going to stop dreaming and believing,

~Mel

Our now is not our forever

One thing that life has shown us is that where we are right now will not be where we are in the very next moment.

Just this past week I was flying all over town as I usually do and for some reason, I had my windows down and I heard the weirdest noise. Being one that pays attention to every detail, I got out of my car and found the culprit. Low and behold, I had a HUGE nail in my tire. I said, "Lord, please get me home safely." So, I proceeded down I-20, at least 25-30 miles from my house at about 70 mph. As I was approaching my exit, I heard this loud "CLACK" and my car started slowing down. Apparently the nail decided to come out of the tire, leaving me with a steadily deflating tire. I was literally 10 miles from my house. But guess what? I was 4 miles from a tire shop. So I begin praying like the folks from the Bible. Real hard and real loud. I refused to let panic settle in. I put on my flashers and pushed all the way to the shop. When I arrived, the mechanic said, "I don't know how long you've been riding, but you might as well get ready to buy a new tire." Honey, I told that man, "You must not know the God I serve and how capable he is."

That day, he became a believer. Not only did I make it safely, my $200 tire cost $15 to patch and 10 minutes to fix. He said that it was no wonder my car didn't spin out of control or get in an accident. He was literally at a lost for words. So was I. Well, I was at a lost at words to speak to him, but I immediately began to throw up words of praise. God did it again! He saved me and I didn't even realize what I was being saved from. I just knew that I wasn't going to accept defeat and be on the side of road for hours. I pushed my own belief to believe that I would make it and I did! (Oh, did I mention, the name of the shop was Mitchell Tire? My last name... yeah. God is just that kind of God.. lol)

You see, because I already saw my self out of that situation, God delivered me to victory. I kept saying, "Lord, I need you, stay with me." And that he did. During that very moment, it didn't seem like I was going to get any reprieve, so I knew all I had was God. Even when every odd is stacked against me, I hope against hope. I trust and know that God is a God of RIGHT now. His timing is impeccable and His grace is everlasting.

The old Mel would have thrown in the towel and given up hope, but for some reason, I just cant bring myself to do it anymore. When I feel like I am up against the wall, I use it as my launching pad to move on to something else. In this season, I have seen God show up when I was at my very last bit of hope and money in the bank.

I think above all, I have learned to not dwell in my moments of difficulties and disappointments, I just cannot let the enemy get away that easy. Of course, my human (flesh) side wants to shout out a few expletives and get flustered, but nothing is accomplished once my hissy fit is over. Perhaps the most effective way is to begin to thank God for what He's done and what He's about to do. Watch your perspective change and watch God move in a mightily way. I certainly saw that when my tire was fixed.

There is nothing God can't do. There is no place that He cant pull you from. There is not a life that He cannot provide. Just trust and believe that your right now is not your forever.

Pushing beyond my right now....

~Mel