Friday, January 31, 2014

Courage and Vision


Where there is no vision, the people perish. (Proverbs 29:18) KJV                                                             
Courage and Vision

            The Bible tells us that where there is no vision, no perspective from God’s point of view, we perish.  The Bible is a continual record of man personally interacting with God, sometimes through dreams and visions. Noah was given the vision of a future flood for which he was to prepare.  Joseph had visions as a youth that weren’t manifested until decades later.  Joshua and Caleb had a call and vision to go into the Promised Land but it took forty years before this vision was fulfilled. Daniel continually had visions, some of which possibly have yet to be fulfilled. Isaiah had visions of a future Messiah which weren’t revealed for centuries.  The apostle, John, while exiled on the island of Patmos, was given a stream of dreams and visions he recorded in the book of Revelation. Jesus continually spoke of future events in his own life as well as future signs of the end times. In the book of Joel it states that in the day of the Lord, “…your old men [women] will dream dreams, your young men [women] will see visions.” (Joel 2:28)  
            It takes courage to share a vision from God with others and even greater courage to act on these visions to help bring them to fulfillment. Many prophets were scorned and lost their lives for doing this and others were persecuted.  Joseph was sold into slavery.  I am sure Noah’s neighbors got a huge laugh regarding the boat their neighbor was building in his backyard. Joshua and Caleb were scoffed at when they told the Israelites they were to go in and possess the Promised Land. Sarah, Abraham’s wife, laughed when told she would become pregnant at an extremely old age.
            What personal vision, dreams, and directions has God given you?  Have they been fulfilled yet?  God wants you to receive this message from Him: “I haven’t forgotten what I told you long ago about your hope and future.  I revealed it only to you because it was a special gift just for you.  Unlike many others, I keep my promises.  Look in your heart and mind where you filed it long ago. Dare to dream again. Dig up the ground of your memory where you buried it in doubt.  Look on the beach by the ocean, where in anger, you once threw the vision I gave you because you were impatient and did not see it coming true.  You will find your old dream and vision washed up on the shore.  You lost it that day, but I found it and want to return it to you because I love you eternally.”
            About ten years ago Debbie Adamson was driving to attend a city-wide Christian Educators Association International Empower group meeting in Houston, Texas. As she was driving, one verse from the old gospel hymn, The Battle Hymn of the Republic, kept coming to her heart and mind: “I have seen him in the watch fires of a hundred circling camps…” She began and then kept singing this verse over and over, belting it out with all her strength.  Nothing else would come to her lips. She believed the Lord spoke to her heart that day saying, “When there are one hundred teacher prayer groups with at least three participants in each group meeting regularly, then I will break the spiritual bondage and strongholds over the schools in this city.”
            Through the local Christian Educators Association International organization Debbie began to encourage teachers to start prayer groups and develop a Biblical process for them to use. She knew she was to be a pilot light and fire carrier to help start these watch fires.  As native tribes moved from one camp to another, one person was assigned the job of carrying burning coals from one camp to another in order to keep a fire constantly burning, for fire was essential to their survival.  Carrying the fire of the Holy Spirit in our hearts into the classrooms and schools and joining together in prayer to fan these spiritual flames is also essential for the survival and life of the schools where we work. We all carry the life giving vision that God is greater than knowledge and the law and that there is a savior beyond “self”.  When we serve Him first by obeying the teaching of Jesus in His classrooms and schools, then we are bringing true life to others.
            Ten years after this vision and after many professional trials, Debbi still has no idea how God is going to fulfill the vision He gave her but she doesn’t doubt him. If He has truly spoken it then He will make a way.  He is the way, the truth and the life. He can do it in a day if the people He is calling to this task obey.  He has shown us through the Israelites, that if the people He is calling are not listening, wrapped up in anger, continually murmuring and complaining or are holding priorities higher than Him, then the vision could take 40 years or more. God is so patient with us. Take courage and dream again.  Share and follow the vision He has given you. Believe.
Prayer:  Lord, thank you for giving us visions and dreams.  Give us the courage to share and fulfill them.
Application and Sharing:  Write down your professional and personal dreams.  Share them and agree in prayer regarding these dreams with others who believe.

CLASSROOM LIGHTHOUSE SERIES: TEACHER! TAKE COURAGE!  (For inquiries contact ceaihouston@sbcglobal.net.) #10

                                                       
Prayerfully dependent,
K


PS. Don’t forget to spread the word about the 1:16PM Prayer Movement.
      Go to www.one16pray.com for more information
      Go to www.ceai.org for more information (which will point you to the above address!)
      Visit,  "like", and add comments the 1:16PM Facebook page.
      Sign up for text message prayer prompts from Remind 101 (we have 205!)
      Follow us on Twitter for the prayer prompts @one16pray
      Look for the prayer prompts on the 1:16 PM website or Facebook page.

May God bless you with success His way this 2013-2014 school year.

Note: To more fully understand the 16-9 Movement, please read the first blog entry byclicking here.


Christian Educators Association International is the only professional association in the United States specifically for Christian educators in public schools.  CEAI protects our members first in prayer, next with excellent professional liability insurance and other benefits while helping them live out their high calling as a Christian in the public school.        

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