The Average Jane Journal #63 - Greatest Fear

What is your greatest fear?

I can admit that my fear is failure.

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7 NLT

What hard thing does God want you to do to complete His assignment or to get you in the place you need to be to start His assignment?

"I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13 NIV

What can you do today to enable you to do tomorrow what you can't do today?

So again, what is your greatest fear? I like this quote from the movie "Coach Carter".

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It is not just in some of us, it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others"

Now of course this quote is from a basketball movie, but we are "powerful beyond measure". We have the same power living in us that raised Christ from the grave. So, I ask you, are you "playing small"? Don't let the fear of failure hold you back. I love how the quote says our being liberated from our own fears will help others with their fear. It could be a chain reaction, touching your circle and their circle, etc.

The Average Jane Journal #62 - Picking Your Brain #2

Do you struggle with pride? I have often said that pride is my "thorn in the flesh". I fear pride so much that sometimes I wonder if it's for a reason. Maybe God knows that I could easily fall to pride. Or it's just something that the enemy can easily use. Either way, I worry about it a lot.

So I was wondering what you think. Sometimes when I feel like I'm relying on God, in His will, trying really hard to live for Him-then I feel proud of my accomplishment. It makes me happy that even for a short time I am on the right track. But then the "fear of pride" comes running at me. So in your opinion, where is the line that divides pride and being proud of your accomplishments? Is feeling proud of yourself a sin? Is it just something the enemy likes to confuse us on? Maybe the fact that we can't do anything without Christ is the answer. Our proud accomplishments wasn't really something we did(on our own) anyway.

THe Average Jane Journal #61 - Something to Admit

Since writing my last journal entry, I have had to admit something to myself and to God. The last few days while pondering on my son's future, and thinking I had given it all to God; I discovered something. Anytime I would ponder the question "What if he goes into ministry?" I immediately wanted to shout "No, Lord, please no". Isn't that sad?? We all have career choices we would NOT want our children to make, but my top of the list is going into ministry!! I know why I feel this way, but it just made me realize I had not fully given my son's future over to the Lord. I'm not saying that I can control it, I'm just saying I hadn't let go of it. (I'm also not saying that God told me my son would be in ministry.)

So anyway, I admitted to God that I was still holding on and felt like sharing that. Bottom line is this: If my son is the local town mechanic or he has some sort of "stage" in his future; if his priority is God in everything he does, then that is the future I want for him.

The Average Jane Journal #60 - My Dream for My Son

That's my son Jackson, and as most of you know it is my heart's desire to see this kid find God someday. And I know he will someday, because I feel like God has told me so. So now I just wait...praying and dreaming about the man of God I desire him to be. I don't just want him to be satisfied with being saved from Hell, I desire for him to totally get it; for God to be his everything. I don't want much huh? But I know you all understand, I'm sure you want the same for your kids.

We all know Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." I have been praying that lately for my son. I have been asking God what His plans are for my son and telling Him that I'm excited to see what they are. I know that faithfulness goes right beside the promise to that verse; and that is where my desire for Jackson to one day be totally bananas for God comes from. I want him to experience that plan God has for him, and I desire it to be a great plan. (Yes, I know I'm a bit partial there-but I totally leave it up to God.)

And listen how cool that verse sounds in The Message translation, "I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for." It's not much different but it made my heart swell when I read that version. As much as I can dream about my son's future-God can dream bigger. I pray that my son's heart will eventually catch that dream.

This morning I heard a song that felt like "home" when I heard it. It is a song about a father praying for his child. The singer is a guy that is a member of my church, but he never gets to go because he travels on the weekends to sing at other churches or conferences, etc. I have seen him sing three times now and I always love his stories. I hope you enjoy the words to this song as much as I did-maybe it will give you a new excitement for praying for your children and wondering what their God plan is.


"Thought You Should Know" by Danny Oertli

It started on the day you were born,
I wanted you to have everything.
Now it seems my conscience is torn
between what I desire and what I believe.
What kind of man would I be if
I didn't pray for you what my father prayed for me?

So I pray with all my heart
That you will be broken
and in brokenness find God.
And I pray that you will fall
and falling down you'll stand to rise above it all.
I pray that God would break you as you grow.
Thought you should know.

As you walk down your winding road
faith and love will go a long way.
You'll learn all you'll need to know,
that life is hard yet love remains.
I wish you nothing but the best
so I'm asking God to put you to the test.

I pray that God would break you as you grow,
and I'm with you every step upon that road.
Thought you should know.

The Average Jane Journal #59 - Are You Dreamin'?

Has anyone been dreamin'? God dreamin'? I encourage you to ask God "What did you make me to do? What is my special talent that I can use for you?" (in less you already know the answer, then "yeah" for you)
I have to say I'm in an excited and fearful place; and I realize how that fear could take over so I'm trying to stay focused, faithful, and encouraged. Just wanted to share some things(from Janie Baer http://godswordalive.com/blog/?p=481) about dreamin' with God that are really encouraging me. Sweet dreams to you all!! Go set the world on fire for God's glory!!

God has made you a dreamer, like Himself, for you were created in His likeness and image.

Dreamers are people who can see things that others cannot see and are the most powerful people on the earth.

God given dreams are God’s dreams, God’s hopes, God’s desires, and God’s plans for you that are already planned out and ready for you to discover and live.

God given dreams come from God and are spoken to your spirit and are different from simple, flimsy wishes, for they capture your thoughts, your feelings, your emotions, your imagination and your spirit.

God given dreams show you how God sees you and how He wants you to see yourself. (I love this one)

God given dreams are something you will embrace and they will embrace you.

God given dreams are something you won’t be able to set aside, for they will consume your thoughts, bring excited expectation of their fulfillment and stir a passion inside you to see them become reality in your life.

God given dreams stir your imagination and bring you into an expectant hope of living in those dreams.

God given dreams require you to become a dreamer, a big dreamer!

God given dreams are a testimony of the greatness of your God.


Another dreamin' with God song!!

Set the World on Fire by Britt Nicole

I wanna set the world on fire
Until it's burning bright for You
It's everything that I desire
Can I be the one You use?

[CHORUS]
I, I am small but
You, You are big enough
I, I am weak but
You, You are strong enough to
Take my dreams
Come and give them wings
Lord with You
Nothing I can not do
Nothing I cannot do

The Average Jane Journal #58 - Dreamin'

I'm dreaming again-not "sleep dreams", but exploring my desires and praying about what matches up with God's will for my life. Exploring those desires that He gave me, and what He wants me to do with them for His purpose. I'm excited and back to looking forward with a little more hope and faith. I can't say I'm perfect, without some setbacks; but I'm ready to dream again. I want to dream again-and see where God takes me. I feel like God has given me a dream for this season in my life, and I am looking back at a couple of things in my childhood that is making me realize that maybe this was my course all along. I wonder if this desire God has given me would have come to surface a long time ago if I had made different choices when younger. Isn't it wild to think back to one decision, and wonder what would have happened differently?

So as I keep dreaming, I'm praying for the strength and courage to follow my dreams. I guess I'm not 100% sure if it is from God, but I am going to keep moving forward till I have a door shut. When praying for strength, that includes not giving up and letting the enemy squash my dreams. I don't want to be reading this journal entry three months from now and not even remember what my dream was.

Thanks for listening, and sweet dreams!! What dreams has God given you? (More about my life dream later.)

Acts 5:38b - 39

"For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God."


My daily anthem song to God:

Unbreakable by Firefly


God, I want to dream again
Take me where I've never been
I want to go there
This time I'm not scared
Now I am unbreakable, it's unmistakable
No one can touch me
Nothing can stop me

Sometimes it's hard to just keep going
But faith is moving without knowing
Can I trust what I can't see
To reach my destiny
I want to take control but I know better

Forget the fear it's just a crutch
That tries to hold you back
And turn your dreams to dust
All you need to do is just trust