All that glitters...and gold.

In today's ponderings, I was thinking about life... what it is, what opportunities I have in this life, my dreams, ambitions, and how all of that is being brought to (really) very little....

My friend quoted another friend and was talking about this guy who leads worship for IHOP Jon Thurlow... the guy said, basically, that if Jon Thurlow would settle for a lesser life, he could pack out stadiums... It's a very true statement. I mean this guy is awesome. Easily joining the ranks of John Mayer, Jack Johnson, and any number of popular soul artists. But he wastes his life leading worship and intercession....for a much smaller crowd...

I got to thinking about that...... in the context of my own thoughts, desires, and dreams... the Lord is really refining that in me... asking me some hard questions. Very unexpected questions.

I know now that I don't want fame like I used to... I no longer care if alot of people know my name... but even good dreams I have of doing great exploits....

Is the Lord offering me the opportunity to lay it all down for the pursuit of this one thing?

I can think of alot of arguments one way or another about dreaming with God or the pleasures of simplistic devotion... but most of them would be based on my human perspective... pleasure and the pursuit of happiness is (besides basic survival) what drives humanity. Of course God wants me to be happy. He is the blessed God, after all.

But am I getting His perspective on joy? On true life? On His dreams for me?

Because at the end of the day, His vision for my life is that I would love Jesus like He does. Love the Father like Jesus does. Wholeheartedly.

And it occurs to me.... His ways are not my ways.... His thoughts are not my thoughts.

That can be a scary thing if I don't know Him. If I haven't communed with the Holy Spirit. If I haven't taken the time to get to know his personality.

If I have yet to discover His character, I will either leave Him by the wayside as I pursue my wildest imaginings... or I will live in fear, never knowing the delight of really trusting that He knows what's best for me.

So the question is posed to my heart.... Do you trust me with this life? Do you trust my ways?

Oh I want my wholehearted answer to scream, "Yes, Father, I trust You!"

And for the quest of my life to be to find out what His ways are....

Psalm 25:4
Show me your ways, O LORD,
teach me your paths;

⁵ guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.

all that glitters is not gold.... God don't let me give up or pass by true gold in pursuit of what glitters....