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ARE YOU STILL HANGING OUT IN YOUR BOX?

by Suellen Fry  
7/06/2007 / Christian Living

I often think of where I'd be today if I hadn't had the courage to "think outside the box." You know the one I'm talking about. We've all had that same box. The same ole box _that familiar comfort zone-hanging around in the attic, or the garage. If I had stayed in that U-Haul box I may not have stepped out in Faith to home school my son. I may not have had the courage to cut off all communication from my soon to be ex-husband( a healthy choice for me), or even sit down at my computer to write this story. But hey...allow me to share something with you. If I hadn't stepped out in faith I might still be peeking over the edge of that same box, looking at my dream.

One day I decided to jump out of that old tore up box and whoop it's butt. And do you know what happened? Instead of looking at my dreams from inside a box, I was actually able to start walking in them. And-taking it up a notch-I was careful enough to ask God first. Ask for what you say? I did something different this time. In the wake of my aging wisdom, I asked the Lord, What are your dreams for me." It seems that all the dreams I had envisioned were mine...not His. Well, lets just suffice to say, most of those dreams ended up as nightmares.

So, as I ask my Father what His big plans are for me I also realize that those plans are His dreams. He wants us to live out those dreams for His Glory. I believe that the Lord blessed me with my writing skills. But sometimes I get all goofy and start thinking that because I can write , now I have to write this award winning novel NOT. Am I writing a book? You bet.

But allow me to clear something up. Around six months ago the Lord came knocking one night. He gave me specific instructions regarding my "future book." I sprung from my bed, " You want what? You say you want this man to co-author the book. ? That's my book God," I darted back. And do you know what came next? "That's not your book Suellen, it's mine, "replied the Lord. As I slowly sunk under my covers, trying to hide from God in shame, I knew He was right. I quickly removed the comforter from my head and asked for forgiveness. It WAS God's book...not mine. Wow, that was a real eye popper huh? Catch my drift here?

While the Lord blesses us with our many talents and gifts, remember one thing folks. They were given to us ...to use for His Kingdoms Glory! Now , here's a quick update on His request. I followed through with it. I went to the person with God's request. However...he gracefully declined. "Well hold on Nellie." I thought. What's up with that? It's called obedience. Simple obedience. And...a quick lesson of humility. Also... a reminder of whose in charge.

I am reminded of a great man whose promise of a better home came to pass. He was told to pack his bags, grab his (immediate)) family and leave his home. The Lord told him to leave his fathers house, and then he would show him where to go. This man was our forefather, Abram. He left..not knowing where he was going exactly. He stepped out of the box. He stepped out in Faith.

Can you imagine? When we pack our bags and get ready to move, most of us know where were going. What awesome Faith our father had. But with Faith comes rewards. Didn't God also promise Abram 7 things? God rewards us greatly! He promised Abram that he would make him a great nation, that he would be blessed, He would make his name great, that He would be a blessing, He would bless those who blessed him, curse those who cursed him, and that all the families of the earth would be blessed.(Genesis 12:1-3) Wow! Abram acted on Faith. The Lord was definitely pleased.

You can bet that every time we step out of that comfort zone...every time we get out of the torn up box-our Lord will have a smile on His face. Is it easy? Heck no. People will talk and some will stare. Some will even say "she's( he's) a strange lot."
But today, I choose to stay outside that box. I choose to honor the Lord's requests. My fathers choices for me are far better than my own. And while I can't pretend to understand His Divine wisdom, I do know that I feel this sense of contentment. For I may not see where I'm going all the time. But hey, I'm thinking outside that box, and I'm walking in His dreams! The dreams that the Lord has hand picked for me, those are the ones that have been tucked away in my heart all these years. I call them my "cotton ball dreams." These dreams were my baby dreams. These gentle loving dreams were forming ...as I was forming in my mothers womb.

Genesis 12:4

So Abram went forth as the Lord had spoken to him

Suellen Fry-Washington was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1957. She now resides in Bradenton, Florida with her and 8 year old son. As an aspiring Christian writer she hopes that her stories will touch someone's heart and perhaps change the direction of someone's life!

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