Just As I Am in 2016!

This year has already been “different”.

My 2016 “Dream Week” (the week between Christmas and the New Year) was different.

5 days into 2016 is still different.

Every year I savor and circle the last week on the calendar, those precious days between Christmas and the New Year, when I basically “vomit” (for lack of prettier word) my B-H-A-G’S (Big Hairy Audacious Goals). My freshly stewed hopes, dreams and plans for the coming year. I am a dreamer. It’s in my blood. It’s what keeps me moving–fast! I love to give birth to fresh ideas, big dreams and unreasonable metrics and measurables.

This year. During my coveted week God PUT ON THE CALENDAR FOR DREAMING–I could barely dream up a thought cloud.

I waited and waited. Days passed by. Nothing. No BHAG’s anyways.

Each day, I gathered up my fresh journal and sat with God’s Word. I remembered and recorded the past year. I reviewed the things I have learned. I recalled my travels of the year, the very special people and places I have experienced. My Life Unstuck book launch with thousands of adorable women. The James and Betty Robison show. Focus on the Family. I listed some stand-out family events: a daughter engagement; family returned home; a life changing move for my Mom; a critical accident.

I searched for that familiar process of jotting down plans that are KNOWNS for the coming year but nothing bubbled up in me. No “Only with God” sized dreams are on the pages of my journal. I started to panic a bit.

The past 2 years have shifted something in me that made this dream week look different.

It is not defeat or pessimism. I trust God more than ever. I love Him and His Word and believe He sees me and has a big NEXT STEP plan for my life. I just don’t have a sense of what that is right now. Honestly, I can’t remember a time when I have not.

So, this is one thing I have already learned in 5 Days, some people don’t start the New Year with a BHAG.

Some people don’t have a big dream or a huge vision. Who knew…

Some people are content with the day to day of life unraveling. Hmmm…imagine that. Unstuck Expectations.

As I sat in my prayer chair this morning, chatting with Jesus. Reading His Word in Habakkuk. Asking Him if I have failed, or slipped into some sort of unidentified depression or hopelessness. Let it not be so Lord.

Then, out of nowhere, he dropped a song into my heart:

“Just as I am.”

I did what every Author, lover of study, dreamer gone lost does in a time like this–I googled it.

Here is what I found:

In 1835 Miss Charlotte Elliott was vi­sit­ing some friends in the West End of Lon­don, and there met the em­i­nent min­is­ter, Cé­sar Ma­lan. While seat­ed at sup­per, the min­is­ter said he hoped that she was a Christ­ian. She took of­fense at this, and re­plied that she would ra­ther not dis­cuss that quest­ion. Dr. Ma­lan said that he was sor­ry if had of­fend­ed her, that he al­ways liked to speak a word for his Mas­ter, and that he hoped that the young la­dy would some day be­come a work­er for Christ. When they met again at the home of a mu­tu­al friend, three weeks lat­er, Miss Ell­i­ott told the min­is­ter that ev­er since he had spok­en to her she had been try­ing to find her Sav­iour, and that she now wished him to tell her how to come to Christ. “Just come to him as you are,” Dr. Ma­lan said. This she did, and went away re­joic­ing. Shortly af­ter­ward she wrote this hymn.

Just as I am, without one plea,

But that Thy blood was shed for me,

And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, and waiting not

To rid my soul of one dark blot,

To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, though tossed about

With many a conflict, many a doubt,

Fightings and fears within, without,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;

Sight, riches, healing of the mind,

Yea, all I need in Thee to find,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,

Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;

Because Thy promise I believe,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, Thy love unknown

Hath broken every barrier down;

Now, to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, of that free love

The breadth, length, depth, and height to prove,

Here for a season, then above,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

There it was, my 2016 Dream. I hope you will join me on the journey here and there!

Pat

PS–BTW 🙂 IF you are looking for a 2016 Book/Bible Study, I am giving away the 6 week Study Guide and Leader KIT that goes with my book Life Unstuck as a gift.

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