Category:Mindsets

Posted on

Impossible Hopes

impossible hopes

Once upon a time there lived a girl who was greatly loved by her Father.

He passed away suddenly, leaving her under the care and direction of her step-mother.

Instead of being cherished, she was forced to work as a slave for her step-mother and her two step-sisters.

She quickly lost her identity as a Beloved Daughter.

Fortunately, she had inherited her Father’s optimistic disposition, which enabled her to accept her lot in life without question.

She found comfort in Beautiful Dreams of Adventure and Romance. Her Imagination kept her going. She didn’t realize that it, too, was a Gift from her Father.

One Day she allows one of her dreams to become her wish. An Impossible Wish. The Prince is giving a Ball, and she wishes so very hard that she might be able to go. After reviewing just how impossible it is, she and her Fairy Godmother conclude:

But the world is full of zanies and fools
Who don’t believe in sensible rules
And because these daft and dewy-eyed dopes
Keep building up Impossible Hopes
Impossible Things are happening every day.

Meanwhile at the Castle, The Prince is expected to choose a Bride from among his guests. So many girls – all eager to be his dance partner. Yet they are more like hungry wolves, seeking access to his virtue and his wealth. He’s bored with them all.

Except One. She catches his eye as soon as she arrives. She is so different. Delightful. There only to enjoy the experience – and him. And they soon fall in love.

They have One Unanswerable Question

(watch the clip here):

Cinderella_kissDo I love you because you’re beautiful?
Or are you beautiful because I love you?
Am I making believe I see in you
A girl to lovely to be really true?
Do I want you because you’re wonderful?
Or are you wonderful
Because I want you?
 
Are you the sweet invention of a lover’s dream,
Or are you really as beautiful as you seem?

Suddenly she disappears. Leaving behind only one small Shoe-Clue to her identity.

At home shortly after midnight, she assumes that’s all she gets of her dream. Determined to savor her memory of her encounter with The Prince, she goes back to taking orders as usual. But this time, with Stardust in her eyes.

Little does she know that The Prince’s desire for her as his Beloved consumes him. And he is also determined. To find her. Whoever she is. Wherever she is.

Unlike her, The Prince knows who he is. Royal blood flows in his veins. But he also knows that the Completeness of His Joy depends upon being with her.

Furthermore – He is confident that He is Her Joy and Bliss.

After an agonizing search, he finds her. And she takes her place as His Beloved.

Impossible Hopes? Nope.
So Very Romantic. Just like Jesus and His Bride.

Though we run away in shame, Jesus seeks us – wherever we are – whoever we are. He restores us to the Truth of who we are in Him. And we have the blessed opportunity to demonstrate that. Here and now. To one another. And to the World.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. (Ephesians 5:25-27)

“You are My Beloved. My Dream come true.”

Watch the Original Production with Julie Andrews!

YouTube player
Posted on

A Negative Cycle & Life in The Box

simple solutions for the negative cycleThe Negative Cycle reminds me of a poster my dentist has on the ceiling at his office. He put it there so his patients would have something to look at while they’re in the chair. I think about it sometimes because it reminds me of myself. It’s a picture of a tiny kitten looking up helplessly from the bottom of large cardboard box.

The caption reads,

“I’m much better at getting myself into things than I am at getting myself out of them.”

Maybe you can identify? Isaiah put it this way:

We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way… (53:6a)

Kittens, sheep, people. Sometimes there’s not much difference. No one plans to get himself or herself into a pickle (Sorry. I like to mix metaphors), yet we all do at one time or another.

Many couples start backing themselves into The Box early in their relationship. Something happens and one of them feels disappointed or hurt. Maybe it’s the woman. (Sometimes it’s the man.) If she says something to her partner about it, he might minimize her feelings or get defensive about his actions or intentions. He means well, but it doesn’t help her feel better.

At first, it seems like a simple thing. Each tries to forget what happened, to move beyond it because it feels so childish to them both. However, the outcome of those early hurts starts a cycle of negative interactions that will continue to grow and solidify over time. Before long, they’re trapped in The Box.

Life in The Box: Trapped in a Negative Cycle

In The Box, he believes that she is overly sensitive and avoids sharing his own thoughts and feelings with her. She believes that her feelings don’t matter to him, and she withdraws, too. It’s lonely. Being in The Box together.

Getting out of The Box is simple, but it isn’t easy. The Good Shepherd is there to help. Just ask. He may suggest you find a local “shepherd” to walk with you through the process. If He does, let me know. I’m here to help you get out of The Box.

Learn the step-by-step process here > How to Resolve Couple Conflict.

In the meantime, I’ll be praying for you both!

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Posted on

How to Receive God’s Promises

Looking over my journals for the last 20+ years, I can clearly see how much time I’ve spent whining & begging God to do something. My journals look a lot different nowadays as I’m learning to abide, to receive, and to give thanks for what God

  • has done for me in Jesus,
  • is now doing in my present circumstances,
  • and all He has planned for my future in this life.

In other words, my approach to my relationship with Him is becoming more present-future focused. Hallelujah!

You don’t have to beg God to give you something He’s already promised. Just learn to abide in His love.

  1. Abide means “to remain in, comply with, obey, observe, follow, keep to, hold to, conform to, adhere to, stick to, stand by, act in accordance with, uphold, heed, accept, go along with, acknowledge, respect.”
    Jesus said: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
  2. Receive means “to be given, presented with something.” God is the Creator and Initiator of all things. He freely gives us His Love in His Son (John 3:16) through the Holy Spirit (John 16:13). Plus he freely give us grace (Ephesians 1:6), peace (John 14:27), and wisdom (James 1:5).
    Paul wrote: “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?” For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. (Romans 11:35-36)
  3. Gratefulness means “warm or deep appreciation for kindness or benefits received; thankfulness for something received from another.”
    Paul encouraged: “… give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

BOTTOM LINE: Abiding, receiving, and being grateful takes your focus off what’s wrong and puts it on what’s right. Whatever you think about will be magnified, not only in your mind, but in your heart and your actions as well. And it’s the only way marriage can be truly enjoyed for a lifetime … in case you were wondering.