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Sunday, January 13, 2013

{Day 3} ~ "The Do What You Can Plan"


Happy Monday, friends!  Today is Day 3 of my series on Holley Gerth's new ebook:


Would you like to join me on this journey?  Click on the graphic above to download your own copy!  

And a warm welcome to anyone visiting from Holley's blog today.  I feel shy and humbled (excited too!) to be a part of this group of God-Sized Dreamers she has so graciously gathered.

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When my eyes picked up the words “Proverbs 31 woman” on Day 3 of Holley’s ebook, my first thought was, “Oh no, I never measure up to that lady!”  As I kept reading, I began to see why she is such an excellent example for all of us God-Sized Dreamers.  Holley helps us pull back the curtain on one of the secrets of her godly success:

“She is a woman of action. Even in the small things, she is always taking the next step.”

I am easily overwhelmed by a large task and will often give up before I even start because I can’t see my way through to the end.  Our God-Sized Dreams, no matter their actual “size”, are definitely big inside of our hearts.  Now that we have taken the time to write down specific mustard seed goals, the bright lights of our dreams shining in our eyes may make us feel like a deer caught in the headlights, unsure of what to do next. 

Holley meets us right there when she writes, “Simply doing the next thing is often the godliest choice we can make. When you think of the goal you wrote down, what is the next thing?”  She instructs that our next step should be “the simpler, smaller, and more ordinary, the better.”

The mustard seed goal I wrote down is to write every day.  My simple, ordinary next step, after publishing this post :), will be to pull out my Bible study lesson and work on my homework for the week.

Those things may not seem linked at all, but it is clear from the life of the woman in Proverbs that taking care of the good and God-given tasks and responsibilities in our lives is essential as we pursue our dreams and goals.  In Holley’s words, “What seems most clear in the description of the Proverbs 31 woman is that we’re to be faithful in the small, immediate, everyday things before us.”

Daily time with Jesus studying His Word and praying is an important part of each day for me (please don’t read this and assume I do this perfectly…I don’t! J ).  It is a deep desire of my heart to walk closely with Jesus as I pursue this God-Sized Dream.  I know that continuing to set aside time to be in the Word is one of the best next steps I can take.

What about you?  What simple, ordinary next step will you take toward your mustard seed goal today?  Remember this truth tucked in at the end of Day 3:

“And obedience is about doing, not just believing.
Do the next thing.
It may not seem like it at the time, but looking back someday, that could just be what changed everything.”

8 comments:

  1. My mustard seed goal was to pray for 8 minutes everyday (pretty small, I know!) and my next step is to start a prayer journal. I'm not great at keeping one, but it's helping me to be consistent in my prayers.

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    1. Nancy, small is just right!! I don't currently keep a prayer journal, but I can see how it would be an excellent way to keep consistent. It also seems helpful (and encouraging) to have that record to go back to. I often think I miss the answers God gives me to my prayers because I forget what I prayed about! Thanks for sharing about your goal here. Bless you!!

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  2. My next step is to edit my first scene, and I trust God to give me enough light for the step I'm on.

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    1. " I trust God to give me enough light for the step I'm on"...Amen to this! I am reminded of that verses in Psalm about how His Word is a light for our feet and a light for our path. I am trusting with you that He will shine His light so that you know where to step. Editing your first scene...exciting!!!

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  3. The perfect next step for any God-sized dream is consistent time with Him. My God-sized dream has to do with writing and speaking and my mustard seed goal is to put together an hour by hour calendar. Intentional time and following a schedule I know will make me more productive and efficient. With social media, this is quite a challenge. God help me! Blessings!

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    1. You are SO right that time management with social media as a draw on our time can be DIFFICULT! I have been wrestling with this, realizing how much time literally slips through my fingers while I am just browsing online. One thing that has been helping me very much with housekeeping is the Motivated Moms pdf for household chores. It helps me to have a daily list and, though I don't kill myself following it always perfectly everyday, it acts as a very helpful guideline for me. Your hour by hour calendar sounds like a great next step! Blessings to you as you navigate this very real aspect of achieving your dreams!

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  4. I am not sure what my God-sized dream is so I don't know what my next step is. I am in the middle of a major life change. I am searching for my "new normal!" One of the benefits of having more "free time" is that my relationship with God has improved. I have chosen to spend time with Him so that I CAN regain my mustard seed faith. I know He will lead me in His plan for my life. I am searching!

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    1. Shirley, major life changes are definitely times to stay close to God. I think you are doing the absolute right thing! While big changes can be challenging, they can also be catalysts for God to do big things in our lives. Bless you as you lean into Him and follow His leading.

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