SACRED DREAMS AND DESIRES

A GUEST BLOG POST

Often I discover gems in what my friends have written, and I have the joy of passing them on. This post is an example. I hope you will find it meaningful.

I am starting to truly believe that the secret of Life with a capital "L" is written on and in our heart's desires. 

These desires, the ones that are all-consuming, have a life of their own. They connect you with the pain and joy of the world and with God. They are sacred. 

 

The time has come to re-ignite the inward journey that leads us to explore these divine desires. Wherever we are, whatever we are doing, we can still pick up the trail right here and now. God is timeless and therefore God is ever-present in every moment. In this very moment we can dive deeply into our hearts and find God and explore those burning desires that are divine. Our desires are the map God gives us to find the only life worth living!

Don't just ask yourself what the world needs, or what's out there to do. It is vital, it is life-giving, that we first ask ourselves what makes us come alive, and then pursue that! What the world needs now are people who have come alive and are awake. There are enough “sleeping giants” and "deer in the headlights" kind of people out there. We need people who are burning with life, fire, passion, and love, who are seeking to fulfill the desires that God has planted in their hearts. 

 

I believe that God has in fact “rigged” the world so that life only "works" when we embrace risk as the theme of our lives, when we truly live by faith. 

 

All our attempts to find a safer life, to live by the expectations of others, just kill the soul in the end. That's not how we find LIFE, Life more abundant. And if there is any wisdom in these words from the years of living I have under my belt, I would say this: Don't ask yourself how or why you should follow your heart's desire; that question will cut your dreams off at the knees. The how is never the right question to ask. And the why questions just lead to chasing an elusive dream, like a hamster on a spinning wheel going nowhere fast. 

 

The most powerful question to ask is "WHAT?”

 

What would you dream for yourself? What does your heart truly long for? What do you feel God is calling you to be and do? What makes your soul sing?

I believe the deepest desires of our hearts were placed there by God to lead us deeper into Him and deeper into ourselves. That will thrust us out into this beautiful world to be and do something meaningful, something to please God because it has given us pleasure.

 

In my estimation, I feel our job is to ask what God wants us to do with our dreams and the desires He has placed in our hearts. 

 

As for the question of how? Well, that’s God's job.           (By N.C.)

I will add my bit:

IN PURSUIT OF DREAMS

Leona Choy

I have some dreams, Lord

leftovers from early years

just hanging there in midair

whose strings I can't let go

some goals that I can't meet

some desires of my heart of hearts

plans I can't complete.

I wonder now—

were they even meant

for fulfillment?

Perhaps some are my own

foolish fantasies

hot air balloons of self

launched from the platform

of my puny pride.

Is my chief distress

that they'll come hissing down

to my embarrassment

without accomplishment?

Then teach me relinquishment

to cut the strings

of those inappropriate dreams

and self-ambitious things

to let them go

and not despair

to surrender them

to Your sovereign care

and be content

to leave them there.

Yet—if perchance the dreams are meant

by Your Divine intent

to come to reality

for Your glory and not mine

inspire me, enable me, my Lord

to pursue them relentlessly

if need be

all the way from here to Eternity!

PRACTICING MY ABCs

I recall riding in street cars—no, not cars on the street, but streetcars. Yes, I can remember that far back, to my earliest childhood.

Streetcar or trolley is North American English for what Europeans call tram. Most of the original urban streetcar systems were dismantled in the mid-20th century. Today, only Toronto still operates a streetcar network essentially unchanged in layout and mode of operation. 

Hand in hand with my Czech live-in grandmother, Frantiska, we would walk two blocks to the streetcar stop. As a first grader I was along for the ride because grandma didn't speak English. I was her translator. Streetcars fascinated me. My mother recalled streetcars pulled by horses or mules. They were called bobtail streetcars. The advantages of eliminating animal drive power included dispensing with the need to feed the animals and clean up their waste. 

By the time I was born, streetcars had become propelled by electricity. They had no motor and couldn't come to the curb to pick up passengers because they had to stay on the tracks in the middle of the street. They had to stay connected by a rod or trolley pole extending through their roof to an electric line that was suspended above to receive its power. 

In the streetcars I was familiar with, both the wheels and the tracks were made of metal and together they keep the streetcar grounded. I didn't know the intricacies of how it all worked when I was a child. I only knew that at the end of its run, the uniformed driver with a distinctive hat needed to insert a long metal pole through a hole in the floor to switch something on the tracks so that the streetcar could go in the opposite direction on the same tracks. And he had to push the woven straw backs of every seat in reverse so the people seated could face in the direction the car was headed. 

The driver rang a bell with his foot as we approached intersections. I liked putting my nickel into the metal box at the entry doorway beside the driver. There was always a “ding-ding” as the nickel dropped to the bottom. The streetcar would begin to sway back and forth as we gathered speed. Fun!

A few years down the line the streetcars had morphed into rubber-tired vehicles that didn't have to stay on tracks, but they still needed to stay connected to the overhead power source. They could glide to the curb to pick up passengers. By the time I became a teenager, streetcars disappeared in our Iowa heartland town and buses with engines replaced them. They were not nearly as much fun.

But enough about the operation of streetcars—I want to make a spiritual analogy to our communication with God. He has ordained places where we meet with Him and worship Him collectively. Besides churches, there are personal places we establish where we habitually pray and listen to the Lord in quiet seclusion to receive His power for living. Of course we are in God's presence at all times. Jesus promised that He never leaves us or forsakes us. 

In some sense our communication with God should be as easy as our ABCs. We who know Him are “in Christ” and He lives in us. Jesus taught us that we are to “abide in Him and He in us.” Abide means to dwell permanently. It is unrealistic to imagine that we go in and out of His presence. “Where can I go from Thy Spirit? Or where can I flee from Thy presence?” ( Psalm 139:7-12) We are not to leave Him behind as we go off independently on our own power. We soon come to a standstill as would the streetcar if the trolley pole connection were severed.

The open secret is that we can and should live continually “in Christ” like the streetcar that is entirely dependent on being united to the power available above it. We must learn our ABCs: “Always Be Connected” to God's power. “Without Me, you can do nothing,” Jesus declared. “Pray without ceasing,” Saint Paul taught. Therefore, it must be possible to dwell in and to abide in Christ 24/7. Is it not possible to be in communion and communication with God through the Holy Spirit constantly through an awareness of His presence? To “practice the presence of God,” as intimately as Brother Lawrence so clearly explained in his classic book, no matter what our ordinary day brings? Can't we, shouldn't we carry on a spirit-to-spirit mental communication with God in both directions, speaking to Him and listening to Him continuously? Consciously or unconsciously, simply walking heart to heart with God regardless of what we are engaged in?

The streetcar has a spiritual lesson for us, if we have ears to hear, a mind to receive, and a heart to obey. Our communion with God need not be such a formal, compartmentalized struggle. As we maintain our connection with Him, we are propelled along joyfully and smoothly on His tracks in His foreordained direction. We have instant power available in time of need. We are kept in a position to obey His slightest nudge of guidance, to hear the slightest whisper of His Spirit.

Surrendering ourselves to stay on His tracks doesn't take away our free will. It is our decision whether or not to "step into His streetcar," to go in His direction. We don't have to deposit our nickel for the ride either—it is free to us, but it has been costly for Him; He paid the price at Calvary.

EARTH SUIT vs SPACE SUIT: Increasing Tension

  




As our years accumulate, we experience increasing tension between these two outfits—aspects of our lives. They compete for first place in our attention, and that determines the amount of time we devote in nurturing either one. 

Most of us are obviously more familiar with our “earth suit”, our flesh bodies, since we have been entrusted at least after childhood, with their care and feeding and maintenance. Many in this world know of nothing else beyond their bodies. They have not been told, or they have rejected the truth that each human being also has an immortal, undying soul that will live on eternally elsewhere. They have given little or no thought to the indisputable fact that our “earth suit” is terminal. It will have to be laid aside at some point in earth time.

“All that is within me” (Psalm 103:1) and all the externals that make up my body will wear out, give out, and stop working well as time goes on. Of course, I should do my best to keep my antique organs in working order and do what I can to remedy anything that goes wrong, but I should not be obsessed about it. Too often I focus on my health or the lack thereof. It is hard to accept the decline of my mortal flesh. Nevertheless, that condition is the “new normal” we can all expect as human beings since the fall as a result of sin in the Garden of Eden.

We sometimes feel a tap on our shoulder or a reminder of our mortality at a birthday, or with the onset of an illness, or simply by the turn of a calendar page as our years accumulate. We may wake up one day and take a closer look in the mirror and be shocked to see that time and gravity is taking its toll. 

Seeking more definitive, up to date medical facts, I thought I'd ask my trusty friend Google what is likely to happen or what will inevitably happen in and to my “earth suit” as time marches relentlessly on. I typed into Search: “Expectations of the aging body.” I fully anticipated that this ubiquitous, apparently all-knowing source would give me the straight stuff.

I found more than I bargained for—some startling medical, physical, psychological, and social facts. Some were depressing with their realism yet not totally despairing. Google links offered some worthwhile, practical counsel since there are things I can do to circumvent some of it. There are maintenance procedures to help slow the pace of the slippery slide; if not to fix it, then at least to manage the decline.

Among the titles of articles whose links I followed were: Aging: What to Expect—Mayo Clinic; 8 Areas of Age-Related Change—National Library of Medicine; Healthy, Normal Aging:Physical Changing in Seniors; and (for whom it may concern) What happens to a woman's body as she ages? I encourage you to follow such links and face reality.

We can expect these things to happen to all of us. It is important to determine what you and I can still do about it. The “Serenity Prayer” becomes ever more relevant as we add years. Some things we still can change; increasingly there are more things that we can no longer change but must accept; we need wisdom to know the difference.

For the care and feeding and nurturing of the other part of my life, that part that the mirror can't reveal, I must go to a different source. It's literally above Google's pay grade to help me. Google is limited: it's not omniscient; it doesn't know all; it's not omnipotent, and it doesn't really care about me personally. For sure Google doesn't love me. It can't help me do anything about the shocking information it provides for me.

The True Source I need also begins with “GO”- like GOogle. It is GOD! 

He is the One who blessed human beings, distinct from all the other creatures of His creation, with an undying, incorruptible soul. He provides my “space suit,” one suitable for wherever in space or time God has prepared our eternal dwelling Place.

God, who furnishes us with our “space suit” soul is the only One who can tell each of us uniquely how to prepare his or her eternal soul for the new atmosphere of Heaven. More of my time should be focused on this priority preparation as I advance in years. It is God, the Omnipresent, Omniscient, Omnipotent One who can empower my launch into the eternal dimension when the time comes for my “earth suit” to be laid aside.

Actually, it should be no contest on which part of my life I should concentrate. My “earth suit” is temporal, impermanent, of this earth. It will disintegrate and decay in spite of the good care I give it. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18; 5:1, 2) On the contrary, my “space suit” (not literal, of course) is durable and indestructible, although it is invisible.

One size will fit all because its label reads “Designed Exclusively by Jesus,” the Architect and Builder of the Place which He promised to prepare for us who trust in Him. He supplies our long-lasting outfit that will endure the lift-off and its trajectory toward Heaven and never wear out!

LESSONS FROM MY COFFEE MUG

Among the many gifts I received for my 90^th birthday was a Disney Hallmark coffee mug from a precious friend whose birthday is the same date as mine--but she's 20 years younger. (Thank you, Jennifer!) 

The mug features a smiley-faced, young-looking Mickey Mouse with the lettering: “Who says we have to GROW UP?” I recall that Mickey never did look any older. He and Minnie Mouse remained the same size and age through all my growing years even to this present day. In real time, I think that Mickey is at least as old as I am.

At first glance only the large, boldface words GROW UP caught my eye. I figured that this gift must have some implications for me, perhaps a hint or reminder to “act my age” in my advanced season of life? Like when the Apostle Paul declared that when he became a man, he put away childish things? I'm not supposed to be whiny about my circumstances as I age, or pout and stamp my feet when things don't go my way. Or stick out my lower lip and bemoan the “good old days.” I'm not expected to act foolishly, to pretend I'm young and dress and act out of character for my age. Wisdom, bearing the Fruits of the Holy Spirit, and encouragement of others should characterize my mature season of life.

On the other hand, acting my age should not mean that I'll retire to a rocking chair and be merely a spectator watching the world go by. Or excuse myself from being spiritually fruitful or serving the Lord just because I'm now a slower-paced nonagenarian. I should live up to my matriarchal position in life but keep living it up.

So who says I have to GROW UP? Actually, God does. And not only GROW UP but in Psalm 92 David perceives God declaring that “those in old age should flourish, still yield fruit, and be full of sap and very green.”

Nevertheless, our gracious, generous, loving God understands our longing for the energy and vitality of our youth. So He has made a spectacular provision for maintaining our spiritual youth even while our mortal body diminishes in strength. For the past few decades I've been relying heavily on the principle which David the Psalmist expressed in Psalm 103:5. “[The Lord] satisfies your years with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle.” Other translations of that phrase “satisfies your years” are “satisfies your life” and “satisfies your mouth [your necessity and desire at your personal age].” And the eagle renewal aspect is translated as “strong, overcoming, soaring.” It is cross-referenced to Isaiah 40:31.

I called it flourishing in the title of the third book of my spiritual autobiographical LAND OF MORE Trilogy, *STILL MORE! FLOURISHING ON MY SUMMIT. I unpacked the eagle renewal analogy in Chapter 12, pp 226-231 of that book. (See also my blog archive September 8, 2012 post titled “Like the Eagle.”)

Okay, Mickey coffee mug, I GET IT NOW! In answer to your muggy question, God has a multiple positive answer: I gotta keep growing, I gotta act grown up, and the Lord has provided a way for me to stay young! Cool!

How to stay young? My inner spirit becomes “renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16) as I'm “anointed with fresh Oil” of the Holy Spirit (Psalm 92:10), and “goodness and mercy follow me all the days of my life” (Psalm 23).

I won't need to drink strong, high-test, full-bodied, rich, mountain-grown coffee out of my Mickey mug for a constant caffeine fix. God's Living Water will be more than sufficient! 

And if I do it God's way, “my cup overflows” (Psalm 23).

 *If you don't have Leona's recent book “STILL MORE!” yet, orders are filled promptly, both for yourself and for your maturing relatives and friends no matter what their age.

CONVERSATION WITH GOD AT AGE 90

(On my 90th birthday June 22, 2015)

Dear Lord, when I was 80, there was much that I hadn't done.

I hoped, Dear Lord, that You'd let me live until I was 81.

But then—I still hadn't finished all I wanted to do—

So I asked for a little while longer, until I was 82.

So many places I wanted to go, so very much to see, I said

Do You think that You could manage to make it 83?

The world was changing very fast, there was so much in store,

I asked a further favor—to sample life when I was 84.

By then, since I was still alive, 
I asked if I could stay around until I was 85!

Exciting things kept going on, and I really hoped to stick

Around to see what happened in the world when I turned 86.

I knew, Dear Lord, that it was going to be spectacular in Heaven!

But I really wanted to stay on Planet Earth until I reached 87.

By then my legs didn't move so fast, and sometimes I'd be late,

Still there was so much joy in life to experience when I was 88.

Dear Lord, You've given me so many blessings,

and I've had such a wonderful time,

That I might have been willing to leave for Heaven 

at the ripe age of 89.

Just one more thing I'd like to say:

Dear Lord, I do appreciate all those bonus decades

in which You've been generously blessing me

And I thank You very kindly—

But if it's still OK with You,

I'd love to live past 90

if You still have some work for me to do!

******

Author: Ann Onymous (Unknown author!) but Leona predictably souped it up/adapted it a bit

The sweet gal who originally sent this to me continued living and loving life, still alert, joyful in the Lord, a great encourager and prayer partner—

who kept pushing the envelope with God—asking for MORE—

until she was 104!

TO ALL FATHERS ON THEIR DAY

All of us have had a father! So....

LET'S HONOR ALL THE DADS
     IN WHATEVER FAMILY TREE THEY ARE
                IN THE HUMAN FOREST!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

For me, Leona, I want to remember and honor:

my late Dad Frank pictured in his WW1 uniform

 before I was born.

  my late husband Ted, father of our four sons, 

Rick, Cliff, Gary, Jeff,
three of whom are fathers themselves,
and two are already grandfathers!

A LITTLE PRIDE POST

Will you forgive a little PRIDE POST?  Thank you for indulging me. At my age perhaps I can get away with it?

Karis Leona Choy, born 6/18/15 10:40 p.m. 7.8 lb.

To put it in heritage perspective, Karis is the daughter of Leona's grandson Dr. Ed Choy and his wife Laura Christ Choy. Ed is the son of Leona and her late husband Ted's third son Gary.

This Great Grandma is highly honored and humbled AND ABSOLUTELY ELATED that on the verge of my 90th birthday Ed and Laura have chosen to give this precious bundle straight from the heart of God, my name for her middle name! Thank you Ed and Laura!  :-) 

(I thought you might have waited for her birth until the 22nd, my birthday, but baby Karis had other plans and jumped the gun!  I think Mommy Laura was more than happy to deliver her just a wee bit early, eh? I heard that Daddy Ed voted for her birth on Father's Day! All's well that ends well! Praise the Lord for a safe delivery for both Mommy and baby!)

God has given this tiny babe a brand new eternal soul, unique from that of everyone else, destined from before the foundation of the world to bless us and glorify "our Father who art in Heaven." 

She joins her three older brothers Elijah, Ephram, and Emet who are all revved up to start spoiling this little feminine miracle! As we all will do....!

And Lord, be pleased to bless this precious family who are dedicated to serving You in full time ministry and are launching out in new ways to reach out multi-culturally to others with the gospel.

My blessings have overflowed in the last several months with the birth of THREE NEW GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN: Kyle Kerr, Myla Humes, and Karis Leona Choy.  Yes, "my cup runneth over!"  What a prelude to my 90th birthday this month! Thank You, Lord!

 

Leona Choy